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"Export Destination and Firm Upgrading: Evidence from Spain"

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  • Akin A. Cilekoglu

    (AQR-IREA Research Group, University of Barcelona, Spain.)

Abstract

This paper examines the role of export destinations on firm upgrading. I exploit the real effective exchange rate devaluation in Spain during the Great Recession to identify the unusual export performance of manufacturing firms. Using directly observable measures of firm upgrading, I find that increased share of exports to low-income destinations in sales reduced productivity and upgrading efforts of firms. However, real effective exchange rate devaluation did not affect the share of exports to high-income destinations in sales as well as productivity and upgrading efforts. The results are consistent with the quality sorting hypothesis that suggests a positive relationship between firm productivity and product quality. The findings in this paper emphasize that export market destination is an important determinant in analysing the gains from exporting.

Suggested Citation

  • Akin A. Cilekoglu, 2023. ""Export Destination and Firm Upgrading: Evidence from Spain"," IREA Working Papers 202306, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised May 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:ira:wpaper:202306
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exports; Firm upgrading; Market destination; Exchange rate. JEL classification: D22; F14; O14; F31.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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