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On the Role of Imports in Enhancing Manufacturing Exports

Author

Listed:
  • Alessia LO TURCO

    (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Economia)

  • Daniela MAGGIONI

    (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Economia)

Abstract

Making use of a large panel dataset on Italian manufacturing rms, we provide evidence on the effect of imports on the firm export performance. We distinguish imports of intermediates according to their origin and we find that inputs sourced from low labour cost countries promote the firms' export activity. Imports from high-income countries do not significantly contribute to the export orientation of firms, especially when persistence in export is considered and the possible endogeneity of the import measures is accounted for via System GMM estimation of a linear probability model. Our evidence suggests that the impact of imports on the firms' entry in export markets works through the cost saving channel rather than the technology channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessia LO TURCO & Daniela MAGGIONI, 2011. "On the Role of Imports in Enhancing Manufacturing Exports," Working Papers 363, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.
    • Handle: RePEc:anc:wpaper:363
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cheap labour countries; exporters; importers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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