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International competition and firm performance: evidence from Belgium

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  • Jan De Loecker
  • Catherine Fuss
  • Jo Van Biesebroeck

Abstract

We evaluate the impact of international competition on firm-level performance in Belgium. In the manufacturing sector we consider both the impact of global competition through measures of import penetration and the impact of within-EU competitiveness using measures of relative labor cost. In selected manufacturing sectors we identify the strength of international competition through a firm’s proximity to the border. In both instances, we consider the impact on a variety of performance dimensions to learn about the mechanisms and about firms’ adjustment to these competitive pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan De Loecker & Catherine Fuss & Jo Van Biesebroeck, 2014. "International competition and firm performance: evidence from Belgium," Working Papers of Department of Economics, Leuven 553099, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Economics, Leuven.
    • Handle: RePEc:ete:ceswps:553099
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    10. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, 2014. "Firm Performance in a Global Market," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 201-227, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Vallés, Javier & Salas Fumás, Vicente & San Juan, Lucio, 2022. "Corporate economic profits in the euro area: The relevance of cost competitive advantage," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 569-585.
    3. Akgündüz, Yusuf Emre & Torun, Huzeyfe, 2020. "Two and a half million Syrian refugees, tasks and capital intensity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    4. Emmanuel Dhyne & Ayumu Ken Kikkawa & Magne Mogstad & Felix Tintelnot, 2021. "Trade and Domestic Production Networks," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(2), pages 643-668.
    5. Colin J. Hottman & Ryan Monarch, 2018. "Estimating Unequal Gains across U.S. Consumers with Supplier Trade Data," Working Papers 18-04, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    6. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Cédric Duprez & Glenn Magerman & Marijn Verschelde, 2021. "Structural Identification of Productivity under Biased Technological Change∗," Working Papers ECARES 2021-28, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Meinen, Philipp, 2016. "Markup responses to Chinese imports," Discussion Papers 02/2016, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    8. Emmanuel Dhyne & Ayumu Ken Kikkawa & Glenn Magerman, 2022. "Imperfect Competition in Firm-to-Firm Trade," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 20(5), pages 1933-1970.
    9. Alan Asprilla & Nicolas Berman & Olivier Cadot & Mélise Jaud, 2019. "Trade Policy And Market Power: Firm‐Level Evidence," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 60(4), pages 1647-1673, November.
    10. Meinen, Philipp, 2016. "Markup responses to Chinese imports," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 122-124.
    11. Zhi, Yan & Bao, Di & Luo, Changyuan, 2019. "The China effect: Evidence from data at firm level in Thailand," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 1-1.
    12. repec:wsr:wpaper:y:2018:i:184 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. repec:nbb:ecrart:y:2014:m:december:i:iii:p:69-82 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Kazunobu Hayakawa & Kenta Yamanouchi, 2024. "How does the reform of rules of origin affect firm performance in importing countries?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 837-856, February.
    15. repec:wsr:wpaper:y:2016:i:165 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Dhyne, Emmanuel & Kikkawa, Ayumu Ken & Kong, Xianglong & Mogstad, Magne & Tintelnot, Felix, 2023. "Endogenous production networks with fixed costs," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Marijn Verschelde, 2018. "Nonparametric identification of unobserved technological heterogeneity in production," Working Paper Research 335, National Bank of Belgium.
    18. J. De Mulder & H. Godefroid, 2018. "Slowdown in productivity," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue iv, pages 51-66, december.
    19. Jan De Loecker & Catherine Fuss & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2018. "Markup and price dynamics:linking micro to macro," Working Paper Research 357, National Bank of Belgium.
    20. HAYAKAWA Kazunobu & URATA Shujiro & YAMANOUCHI Kenta, 2022. "Import Competition from China and Markup Dispersion," Discussion papers 22031, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    21. Laurens Cherchye & Bram De Rock & Antonio Estache & Marijn Verschelde, 2015. "Efficiency Measures in Regulated Industries: History, Outstanding Challenges and Emerging Solutions," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2015-09, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    22. Jan De Loecker & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2016. "Effect of International Competition on Firm Productivity and Market Power," NBER Working Papers 21994, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    23. Emmanuel Dhyne & Catherine Fuss, 2014. "Main lessons of the NBB’s 2014 conference “Total factor productivity : measurement, determinants and effects”," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue iii, pages 63-76, December.
    24. Gullstrand, Joakim & Knutsson, Polina, 2019. "The Spatial Dimension of Import Competition," Working Papers 2019:13, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    25. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Marijn Verschelde, 2018. "Nonparametric Production Analysis with Unobserved Heterogeneity in Productivity," Working Papers ECARES 2018-25, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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