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Higher Wages in Exporting Firms: Self-Selection, Export Effect, or Both? First Evidence from German Linked Employer-Employee Data

Author

Listed:
  • Schank, Thorsten

    (University of Mainz)

  • Schnabel, Claus

    (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)

  • Wagner, Joachim

    (Leuphana University Lüneburg)

Abstract

While it is a stylized fact that exporting firms pay higher wages than non-exporting firms, the direction of the link between exporting and wages is less clear. Using a rich set of German linked employer-employee panel data we follow over time plants that start to export. We show that the exporter wage premium does already exist in the years before firms start to export, and that it does not increase in the following years. Higher wages in exporting firms are thus due to self-selection of more productive, better paying firms into export markets; they are not caused by export activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Schank, Thorsten & Schnabel, Claus & Wagner, Joachim, 2008. "Higher Wages in Exporting Firms: Self-Selection, Export Effect, or Both? First Evidence from German Linked Employer-Employee Data," IZA Discussion Papers 3359, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3359
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    Cited by:

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    2. Joachim Wagner, 2009. "Exporte und Firmenerfolg: Welche Firmen profitieren wie vom internationalen Handel?," AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Springer;Deutsche Statistische Gesellschaft - German Statistical Society, vol. 3(2), pages 109-122, October.
    3. Achim Schmillen, 2016. "The Exporter Wage Premium Reconsidered—Destinations, Distances and Linked Employer–Employee Data," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 531-546, May.
    4. Cirera, Xavier & Martins-Neto, Antonio Soares, 2023. "Do innovative firms pay higher wages? Micro-level evidence from Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
    5. Ramona Dumitriu & Razvan Stefanescu, 2015. "The Relationship Between Romanian Exports And Economic Growth After The Adhesion To European Union," Risk in Contemporary Economy, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, pages 17-26.
    6. Pflüger Michael & Blien Uwe & Möller Joachim & Moritz Michael, 2013. "Labor Market Effects of Trade and FDI – Recent Advances and Research Gaps," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 233(1), pages 86-116, February.
    7. Francisco Alcalá & Pedro Hernández, 2010. "Firms’ main market, human capital, and wages," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 1(4), pages 433-458, September.
    8. Joachim Wagner, 2019. "Effect of international activity on firm performance," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 1-47, November.
    9. Hernández, Pedro, 2012. "Is there a producer quality wage premium similar to the exporter wage premium?," MPRA Paper 41082, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Roxanne Merenda, 2021. "The Determinants of Competitiveness of the Portuguese Defense Industry," GEE Papers 0159, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Nov 2021.
    11. Alina Grecu & Wolfgang Sofka & Marcus M. Larsen & Torben Pedersen, 2022. "Unintended signals: Why companies with a history of offshoring have to pay wage penalties for new hires," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(3), pages 534-549, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    exporter wage premium; wages; exports; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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