IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/journl/hal-03128820.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

All these worlds are yours, except india: The effectiveness of cash subsidies to export in nepal

Author

Listed:
  • Fabrice Defever

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • José-Daniel Reyes
  • Alejandro Riaño
  • Gonzalo Varela

Abstract

This paper studies the impact of a ‘textbook' ad-valorem export subsidy on firm-level export performance. The Cash Incentive Scheme for Exports (CISE) program offered by the government of Nepal offers a cash subsidy to firms exporting a select group of products to countries other than India. Using customs transactions data combined with subsidy disbursements at the firm level from 2011 to 2014, we estimate the impact of the subsidy on exports of targeted and non-target product-destination combinations and their extensive and intensive margins. We employ a range of doubly-robust matching estimators to control for the non-random selection of exporters into the scheme. We find that subsidized firms increased their exports of targeted product-destinations relative to firms in the control group and that this rise is fully accounted for by the extensive margin: a higher number of targeted products exported and foreign markets served. We do not find any significant changes along the intensive margin nor among non-targeted product-destination combinations. While our results show that the CISE scheme fomented export diversification, its limited impact on total exports and high fiscal cost call into question its effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabrice Defever & José-Daniel Reyes & Alejandro Riaño & Gonzalo Varela, 2020. "All these worlds are yours, except india: The effectiveness of cash subsidies to export in nepal," Post-Print hal-03128820, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03128820
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2020.103494
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    To our knowledge, this item is not available for download. To find whether it is available, there are three options:
    1. Check below whether another version of this item is available online.
    2. Check on the provider's web page whether it is in fact available.
    3. Perform a search for a similarly titled item that would be available.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thierry Mayer & Marc J. Melitz & Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano, 2021. "Market Size, Competition, and the Product Mix of Exporters," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Firms and Workers in a Globalized World Larger Markets, Tougher Competition, chapter 5, pages 109-150, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Richard E. Caves, 1976. "Economic Models of Political Choice: Canada's Tariff Structure," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 9(2), pages 278-300, May.
    3. Thomas Chaney, 2014. "The Network Structure of International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(11), pages 3600-3634, November.
    4. Bela Balassa, 1978. "Export incentives and export performance in developing countries: A comparative analysis," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 114(1), pages 24-61, March.
    5. Fabrice Defever & José‐Daniel Reyes & Alejandro Riaño & Miguel Eduardo Sánchez‐Martín, 2019. "Special Economic Zones and WTO Compliance: Evidence from the Dominican Republic," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 86(343), pages 532-568, July.
    6. Thomas Chaney, 2008. "Distorted Gravity: The Intensive and Extensive Margins of International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(4), pages 1707-1721, September.
    7. Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Emily Yu & Shenjie Chen, 2015. "The impact of trade promotion services on Canadian exporter performance," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 48(4), pages 1481-1512, November.
    8. Volpe Martincus, Christian & Carballo, Jerónimo, 2008. "Is export promotion effective in developing countries? Firm-level evidence on the intensive and the extensive margins of exports," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1), pages 89-106, September.
    9. Holger Görg & Michael Henry & Eric Strobl, 2008. "Grant Support and Exporting Activity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 90(1), pages 168-174, February.
    10. Sourafel Girma & Holger Görg, 2016. "Evaluating the foreign ownership wage premium using a difference-in-differences matching approach," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES AND HOST COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT Volume 53: World Scientific Studies in International Economics, chapter 2, pages 17-32, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    11. Cadot, Olivier & Fernandes, Ana M. & Gourdon, Julien & Mattoo, Aaditya, 2015. "Are the benefits of export support durable? Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 310-324.
    12. Volker Nocke & Stephen Yeaple, 2014. "Globalization And Multiproduct Firms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 55, pages 993-1018, November.
    13. Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Jozef Konings & Christian Volpe Martincus, 2016. "Did export promotion help firms weather the crisis?," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 31(88), pages 653-702.
    14. Bown, Chad & Crowley, Meredith A., 2016. "The Empirical Landscape of Trade Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 11216, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    15. Costas Arkolakis & Sharat Ganapati & Marc-Andreas Muendler, 2021. "The Extensive Margin of Exporting Products: A Firm-Level Analysis," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 13(4), pages 182-245, October.
    16. Chris Papageorgiou & Nikola Spatafora, 2012. "Economic Diversification in LICs; Stylized Facts and Macroeconomic Implications," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 12/13, International Monetary Fund.
    17. Treb Allen, 2014. "Information Frictions in Trade," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82, pages 2041-2083, November.
    18. Carsten Eckel & J. Peter Neary, 2010. "Multi-Product Firms and Flexible Manufacturing in the Global Economy," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 77(1), pages 188-217.
    19. Grossman, Gene M & Helpman, Elhanan, 1994. "Protection for Sale," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 833-850, September.
    20. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6g0gsihsjmn5snc9pb0jo6hhp is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Marco Caliendo & Sabine Kopeinig, 2008. "Some Practical Guidance For The Implementation Of Propensity Score Matching," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 31-72, February.
    22. Aldo Pazzini & Daniel Reyes & Gonzalo Varela, 2016. "From Evidence to Policy Supporting Nepal’s Trade Integration Strategy," World Bank Publications - Reports 24934, The World Bank Group.
    23. Kosuke Imai & Marc Ratkovic, 2014. "Covariate balancing propensity score," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 76(1), pages 243-263, January.
    24. Roberto Álvarez E. & Gustavo Crespi T., 2000. "Exporter performance and promotion instruments: Chilean empirical evidence," Estudios de Economia, University of Chile, Department of Economics, vol. 27(2 Year 20), pages 225-241, December.
    25. Emanuel Ornelas, 2016. "Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries," CESifo Working Paper Series 5823, CESifo.
    26. Sourafel Girma & Yundan Gong & Holger Görg & Zhihong Yu, 2009. "Can Production Subsidies Explain China's Export Performance? Evidence from Firm‐level Data," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 111(4), pages 863-891, December.
    27. Andrew B. Bernard & Stephen J. Redding & Peter K. Schott, 2011. "Multiproduct Firms and Trade Liberalization," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(3), pages 1271-1318.
    28. Gabriel J. Felbermayr & Erdal Yalcin, 2013. "Export Credit Guarantees and Export Performance: An Empirical Analysis for Germany," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(8), pages 967-999, August.
    29. Kyle Bagwell & Robert W. Staiger, 2006. "Will International Rules on Subsidies Disrupt the World Trading System?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 96(3), pages 877-895, June.
    30. Wang, Jin, 2013. "The economic impact of Special Economic Zones: Evidence from Chinese municipalities," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 133-147.
    31. Mr. Chris Papageorgiou & Mr. Nikola Spatafora, 2012. "Economic Diversification in LICs: Stylized Facts and Macroeconomic Implications," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2012/013, International Monetary Fund.
    32. Guido W. Imbens & Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, 2009. "Recent Developments in the Econometrics of Program Evaluation," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 47(1), pages 5-86, March.
    33. Jakob Munch & Georg Schaur, 2018. "The Effect of Export Promotion on Firm-Level Performance," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 357-387, February.
    34. repec:idb:brikps:publication-detail,7101.html?id=21146 is not listed on IDEAS
    35. Christian Volpe Martincus & Jerónimo Carballo, 2010. "Export Promotion: Bundled Services Work Better," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(12), pages 1718-1756, December.
    36. Kishor Sharma, 2015. "Trade Policymaking in a Land‐locked Developing Country: The WTO Review of Nepal," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(9), pages 1335-1349, September.
    37. Alessandro Nicita & Julia Seiermann, 2016. "G20 Policies And Export Performance Of Least Developed Countries," UNCTAD Blue Series Papers 75, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    38. Eric J. Bartelsman & Wayne Gray, 1996. "The NBER Manufacturing Productivity Database," NBER Technical Working Papers 0205, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    39. 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.
    40. Andrew B. Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen, 2004. "Why Some Firms Export," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(2), pages 561-569, May.
    41. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6apm7lruv088iagm4rv2c33jtg is not listed on IDEAS
    42. Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2007. "Inverse probability weighted estimation for general missing data problems," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 1281-1301, December.
    43. repec:idb:brikps:16458 is not listed on IDEAS
    44. Fernandes, Ana M. & Freund, Caroline & Pierola, Martha Denisse, 2016. "Exporter behavior, country size and stage of development: Evidence from the exporter dynamics database," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 121-137.
    45. Defever, Fabrice & Riaño, Alejandro, 2017. "Subsidies with export share requirements in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 33-51.
    46. Volpe Martincus, Christian & Carballo, Jerónimo, 2010. "Beyond the average effects: The distributional impacts of export promotion programs in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 201-214, July.
    47. Thomas Farole & Gokhan Akinci, 2011. "Special Economic Zones : Progress, Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2341.
    48. Myrto Kalouptsidi, 2018. "Detection and Impact of Industrial Subsidies: The Case of Chinese Shipbuilding," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(2), pages 1111-1158.
    49. Haley, Usha C.V. & Haley, George T., 2013. "Subsidies to Chinese Industry: State Capitalism, Business Strategy, and Trade Policy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199773749.
    50. Christian Helmers & Natalia Trofimenko, 2013. "The Use and Abuse of Export Subsidies: Evidence from Colombia," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 465-486, April.
    51. Volpe Martincus, Christian & Carballo, Jerónimo, 2010. "Beyond the average effects: The distributional impacts of export promotion programs in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 201-214, July.
    52. Christian Volpe Martincus, 2010. "Odyssey in International Markets: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Export Promotion in Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 16458, February.
    53. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/7an8r1ubqs93caeqs80puld0tp is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Manaresi & Alessandro Palma & Luca Salvatici & Vincenzo Scrutinio, 2022. "Managerial input and firm performance. Evidence from a policy experiment," CEP Discussion Papers dp1871, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Rotundo, G. & Ausloos, M., 2007. "Microeconomic co-evolution model for financial technical analysis signals," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 373(C), pages 569-585.
    3. Stjepan Srhoj & Vanja Vitezic & Joachim Wagner, 2020. "Export boosting policies and firm behaviour: Review of empirical evidence around the world," Working Paper Series in Economics 395, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    4. Srhoj Stjepan & Vitezić Vanja & Wagner Joachim, 2023. "Export Boosting Policies and Firm Performance: Review of Empirical Evidence Around the World," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 243(1), pages 45-92, February.
    5. Defever, F. & Riaño, A. & Varela, G., 2020. "Evaluating the Impact of Export Finance Support On Firm-level Export Performance: Evidence from Pakistan," Working Papers 20/14, Department of Economics, City University London.
    6. Jorge F. Chávez & Antonio Cusato Novelli & Max Perez Leon, 2020. "Export Subsidies in Emerging Markets During the Great Trade Collapse," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(3), pages 1879-1892.
    7. Alderremy, A.A. & Saad, Khaled M. & Agarwal, Praveen & Aly, Shaban & Jain, Shilpi, 2020. "Certain new models of the multi space-fractional Gardner equation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 545(C).
    8. Coma, Julià & Chàfer, Marta & Pérez, Gabriel & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2020. "How internal heat loads of buildings affect the effectiveness of vertical greenery systems? An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 919-930.
    9. Yuping Deng & Yanrui Wu & Helian Xu, 2022. "Emission Reduction and Value-added Export Nexus at Firm Level," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 22-19, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    10. Zhu, H.B. & Zhou, Y.J. & Wu, W.J., 2020. "Modeling traffic flow mixed with automated vehicles considering drivers ’ character difference," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 549(C).
    11. Nie, Binjian & Zou, Boyang & She, Xiaohui & Zhang, Tongtong & Li, Yongliang & Ding, Yulong, 2020. "Development of a heat transfer coefficient based design method of a thermal energy storage device for transport air-conditioning applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    12. Li, Zhiyu & Xu, Xiwei & Jiang, Enchen & Han, Ping & Sun, Yan & Zhou, Ling & Zhong, Peidong & Fan, Xudong, 2020. "Alkane from hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) combined with in-situ multistage condensation of biomass continuous pyrolysis bio-oil via mixed supports catalyst Ni/HZSM-5-γ-Al2O3," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 535-548.
    13. Sharma, Rishi R., 2023. "An anatomy of Nepal’s remarkable export decline: A note," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    14. Shi, Xin & Jiang, Haizhou & Li, Huan & Xu, Dong, 2020. "Maritime cluster research: Evolutionary classification and future development," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 237-254.
    15. Yoo, Yeawon & Escobedo, Adolfo R. & Skolfield, J. Kyle, 2020. "A new correlation coefficient for comparing and aggregating non-strict and incomplete rankings," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 1025-1041.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vargas Da Cruz,Marcio Jose, 2014. "Do export promotion agencies promote new exporters ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7004, The World Bank.
    2. Stjepan Srhoj & Vanja Vitezic & Joachim Wagner, 2020. "Export boosting policies and firm behaviour: Review of empirical evidence around the world," Working Paper Series in Economics 395, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    3. Jorge F. Chávez & Antonio Cusato Novelli & Max Perez Leon, 2020. "Export Subsidies in Emerging Markets During the Great Trade Collapse," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(3), pages 1879-1892.
    4. (ed.), 0. "Research Handbook on Economic Diplomacy," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 16053.
    5. Vargas Da Cruz,Marcio Jose, 2014. "Do export promotion agencies promote new exporters ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7004, The World Bank.
    6. Defever, F. & Riaño, A. & Varela, G., 2020. "Evaluating the Impact of Export Finance Support On Firm-level Export Performance: Evidence from Pakistan," Working Papers 20/14, Department of Economics, City University London.
    7. Ahmed Boutorat & Loe Franssen, 2023. "Economic missions and firm internationalization: evidence from the Netherlands," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 159(3), pages 787-826, August.
    8. Defever,Fabrice Fernand & Reyes,Jose Daniel & Riano,Alejandro & Varela,Gonzalo J., 2017. "All these worlds are yours, except India : the effectiveness of export subsidies in Nepal," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8009, The World Bank.
    9. Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Emily Yu & Shenjie Chen, 2015. "The impact of trade promotion services on Canadian exporter performance," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 48(4), pages 1481-1512, November.
    10. Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Jozef Konings & Christian Volpe Martincus, 2016. "Did export promotion help firms weather the crisis?," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 31(88), pages 653-702.
    11. Broocks, Annette & Van Biesebroeck, Johannes, 2017. "The impact of export promotion on export market entry," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 19-33.
    12. Cadot, Olivier & Fernandes, Ana M. & Gourdon, Julien & Mattoo, Aaditya, 2015. "Are the benefits of export support durable? Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 310-324.
    13. Srhoj, Stjepan & Walde, Janette, 2020. "Getting ready for EU Single Market: The effect of export-oriented grant schemes on firm performance," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 279-293.
    14. Simona Comi & Laura Resmini, 2020. "Are export promotion programs effective in promoting the internalization of SMEs?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(2), pages 547-581, July.
    15. Christian Volpe Martincus & Jerónimo Carballo, 2010. "Entering new country and product markets: does export promotion help?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 146(3), pages 437-467, September.
    16. Christian Volpe Martincus, 2010. "Odyssey in International Markets: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Export Promotion in Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Books), Inter-American Development Bank, number 16458, February.
    17. Cansino, José M. & Lopez-Melendo, Jaime & Pablo-Romero, María del P. & Sánchez-Braza, Antonio, 2013. "An economic evaluation of public programs for internationalization: The case of the Diagnostic program in Spain," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 38-46.
    18. Xiang Hui, 2020. "Facilitating Inclusive Global Trade: Evidence from a Field Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(4), pages 1737-1755, April.
    19. Ryo Makioka, 2021. "The impact of export promotion with matchmaking on exports and service outsourcing," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1418-1450, November.
    20. Andrew B. Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen & Stephen J. Redding & Peter K. Schott, 2012. "The Empirics of Firm Heterogeneity and International Trade," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 4(1), pages 283-313, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Export subsidies; Export diversification; Export margins; Least developed countries; Special and differential treatment for developing countries; Nepal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F61 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Microeconomic Impacts
    • O24 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03128820. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.