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Trade shocks, product mix adjustment and productivity growth in Italian manufacturing

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Gabriela Ladu

    (University of Sassari and ISTAT)

  • Andrea Linarello

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Filippo Oropallo

    (ISTAT)

Abstract

In this paper we use firm-level data on the universe of Italian manufacturing multi-product exporters to test whether demand shocks in export markets lead multi-product exporters to increase their productivity. The main mechanism behind the documented productivity gains is the reallocation of resources across products within firms (Mayer et al., 2014 and 2016). Intuitively, the increased demand stemming from foreign markets will induce firms to adjust their product-mix by moving inputs from low to high productive/profitable uses. We find that these productivity gains are significant and account for about 30 per cent of aggregate productivity growth in the manufacturing sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Gabriela Ladu & Andrea Linarello & Filippo Oropallo, 2019. "Trade shocks, product mix adjustment and productivity growth in Italian manufacturing," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 513, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_513_19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Mathias Juust, 2021. "Trade Effects Of A Negative Export Shock On Direct Exporters And Wholesalers," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 133, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Italian manufacturing sector; export; trade shocks; productivity;
    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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