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Firms’ Productivity and Internationalisation Choices: Evidence for a Large Sample of Italian Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Luigi Benfratello

    (University of Turin and Ceris-CNR)

  • Tiziano Razzolini

    (University of Turin)

Abstract

This paper provides evidence on the links between productivity and internationalisation choices for a large sample of both large and small-medium sized Italian firms. By using detailed qualitative and quantitative information we first identify those firms engaged in international activities through exports and/or horizontal FDIs. Following the empirical literature on firm heterogeneity we estimate different measures of Total Factor Productivity and we provide empirical support to the theoretical predictions that there is a productivity ranking among domestic firms, exporters, and FDI performers. By estimating a multinomial logit model, we also control for the effect of variables other than TFP such as size, innovative activity, age, ICT adoption, labour composition, and group membership. As these variables only partially capture the effect of productivity on the probability to engage in foreign markets, we find that the ranking is robust with respect to the inclusion of these additional firm-level characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Luigi Benfratello & Tiziano Razzolini, 2008. "Firms’ Productivity and Internationalisation Choices: Evidence for a Large Sample of Italian Firms," Development Working Papers 236, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    • Handle: RePEc:csl:devewp:236
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    File URL: https://www.dagliano.unimi.it/media/WP2008_236.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Aiello, Francesco & Pupo, Valeria & Ricotta, Fernand, 2011. "Explaining TFP at firm level in Italy. Does location matter?," MPRA Paper 35656, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Filomena Pietrovito & Alberto Franco Pozzolo & Luca Salvatici, 2016. "Internationalization choices: an ordered probit analysis at industry level," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 561-594, March.
    3. L. Benfratello & A. Bottasso & C. Piccardo, 2022. "R&D and export performance: exploring heterogeneity along the export intensity distribution," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(2), pages 189-232, June.
    4. Giorgio Barba Navaretti & Giuseppe Bertola & Alessandro Sembenelli, 2008. "Offshoring and Immigrant Employment: Firm-level Theory and Evidence," Development Working Papers 245, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    5. Franco Amatori & Matteo Bugamelli & Andrea Colli, 2011. "Italian Firms in History: Size, Technology and Entrepreneurship," Quaderni di storia economica (Economic History Working Papers) 13, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    6. Stefano Costa & Carmine Pappalardo & Claudio Vicarelli, 2017. "Internationalization choices and Italian firm performance during the crisis," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 753-769, March.
    7. Riccardo De Bonis & Giovanni Ferri & Zeno Rotondi, 2010. "Do bank-firm relationships influence firm internationalization?," Mo.Fi.R. Working Papers 37, Money and Finance Research group (Mo.Fi.R.) - Univ. Politecnica Marche - Dept. Economic and Social Sciences.
    8. Giulio Cainelli & Eleonora Di Maria & Roberto Ganau, 2014. "An Explanation of Firms' Internationalisation Modes, Blending Firm Heterogeneity and Spatial Agglomeration: Microevidence from Italy," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 46(4), pages 943-962, April.
    9. Giulio Cainelli & Eleonora Di Maria & Roberto Ganau, 2011. "Agglomeration, related-variety and internationalisation. Does a relationship exist?," Openloc Working Papers 1114, Public policies and local development.
    10. Bratti, Massimiliano & Felice, Giulia, 2009. "Exporting and Product Innovation at the Firm Level," MPRA Paper 18915, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Onkelinx, Jonas & Manolova, Tatiana S. & Edelman, Linda F., 2016. "The human factor: Investments in employee human capital, productivity, and SME internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 351-364.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Productivity; Export; Firm Heterogeneity; Multinomial Logit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • C35 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions

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