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Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries

Author

Listed:
  • Tosapol Apaitan

    (Researcher, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, Bank of Thailand. Author email: tosapola@bot.or.th)

  • Piti Disyatat

    (Executive Director, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, Bank of Thailand. Author email: pitid@bot.or.th)

  • Krislert Samphantharak

    (Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Dean, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego. Author email: krislert@ucsd.edu)

Abstract

This paper uses transaction-level data from Thailand to study concentration, specialization, and fragility of export activities. The paper shows that although exports have been an integral part of the development strategy of the country for several decades, direct engagement in international trade through exports is a rare activity. Export firms are different from their nonexport counterparts. Export activities are also extremely concentrated. There is a great deal of churning in Thai exports and exporting relationships are highly fragile. The findings highlight some cautions from a micro perspective about an export-oriented development strategy, particularly regarding concentration and vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Tosapol Apaitan & Piti Disyatat & Krislert Samphantharak, 2019. "Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 36(1), pages 20-53, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:adbadr:v:36:y:2019:i:1:p:20-53
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonathan Eaton & Samuel Kortum & Francis Kramarz, 2004. "Dissecting Trade: Firms, Industries, and Export Destinations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 150-154, May.
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    3. Julian di Giovanni & Andrei A. Levchenko & Isabelle Mejean, 2014. "Firms, Destinations, and Aggregate Fluctuations," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82(4), pages 1303-1340, July.
    4. Aghion, Philippe & Akcigit, Ufuk & Howitt, Peter, 2014. "What Do We Learn From Schumpeterian Growth Theory?," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 515-563, Elsevier.
    5. Marc J. Melitz, 2003. "The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(6), pages 1695-1725, November.
    6. Besedes, Tibor & Prusa, Thomas J., 2011. "The role of extensive and intensive margins and export growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 371-379, November.
    7. Andrew B. Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen & Peter K. Schott, 2009. "Importers, Exporters and Multinationals: A Portrait of Firms in the U.S. that Trade Goods," NBER Chapters, in: Producer Dynamics: New Evidence from Micro Data, pages 513-552, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alongkorn Tanasritunyakul, 2023. "Export survival for Thailand after the COVID-19 pandemic," Discussion Papers 20230809, Thammasat University, Faculty of Economics, revised Oct 2023.
    2. Doungdao Mahakitsiri & Wisarut Suwanprasert, 2020. "Understanding the Bimodality of the Export Intensity Distribution in Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 139, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Tosapol Apaitan & Nasha Ananchotikul & Piti Disyatat, 2017. "Structural Transformation in Thailand: A Perspective Through Product Innovation," PIER Discussion Papers 72, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    export firms; export-oriented industrialization; international trade; Thailand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General

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