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Market access, supplier access, and Africa's manufactured exports: A firm level analysis

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  • Ibrahim Elbadawi
  • Taye Mengistae
  • Albert Zeufack

Abstract

In a large cross-country sample of manufacturing establishments drawn from 188 cities, average exports per establishments are smaller for African firms than for businesses in other regions. Based on the estimation of firm level exporting equations, we show that this is mainly because, on average, African firms face more adverse economic geography and operate in poorer institutional settings. One part of the effect of geography operates through Africa's lower 'foreign market access': African firms are located further away from wealthier or denser potential export markets. A second occurs through the region's lower 'supplier access': African firms face steeper input prices, partly because of their physical distance from cheaper foreign suppliers, and partly because domestic substitutes for importable inputs are more expensive. Africa's poorer institutions reduce its manufactured exports directly, as well as indirectly, by lowering foreign market access and supplier access. Both geography and institutions influence average firm level exports significantly more through their effect on the number of exporters than through their impact on how much each exporter sells onto foreign markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Ibrahim Elbadawi & Taye Mengistae & Albert Zeufack, 2006. "Market access, supplier access, and Africa's manufactured exports: A firm level analysis," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 493-523.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jitecd:v:15:y:2006:i:4:p:493-523
    DOI: 10.1080/09638190601037567
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    4. Samuel Yaw Akomea & Olav Jull Sørensen & Kweku Amponsah-Efah, 2014. "Export Drivers And Barriers: Evidence From Ghanaian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Firms," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 8(2), pages 81-96.
    5. Alassane D. Yeo & Aimin Deng & Todine Y. Nadiedjoa, 2020. "Trade Facilitation Effects on International Trade: Evidence From Lower-Middle and Upper-Middle-Income Countries," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(5), pages 254-266, October.
    6. Thomas Gries & Wim Naudé & Marianne Matthee, 2009. "The Optimal Distance To Port For Exporting Firms," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(3), pages 513-528, August.
    7. Celbis, Mehmet Güney & Nijkamp, Peter & Poot, Jacques, 2013. "How big is the impact of infrastructure on trade? Evidence from meta-analysis," MERIT Working Papers 2013-032, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    8. Kearney, Colm, 2012. "Emerging markets research: Trends, issues and future directions," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 159-183.

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