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Firm dynamics in the Cambodian garment industry: firm turnover, productivity growth, and wage profile under trade liberalization

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  • Asuyama, Yoko
  • Chhun, Dalin
  • Fukunishi, Takahiro
  • Neou, Seiha
  • Yamagata, Tatsufumi

Abstract

The international garment trade was liberalized in 2005 following the termination of the MFA(Multifibre Arrangement) and ever since then, price competition has intensified. Employing a unique firm dataset collected by the authors, this paper examines the changes in the performance of Cambodian garment firms between 2002/03 and 2008/09. During the period concerned, frequent firm turnover led to an improvement of the industry’s productivity, and the study found that the average total-factor productivity (TFP) of new entrants was substantially higher than that of exiting firms. Furthermore, we observed that thanks to productivity growth, an improvement in workers’ welfare, including a rise in the relative wages of the low-skilled, was taking place. These industrial dynamics differ considerably from those indicated by the “race to the bottom” argument as applied to labor-intensive industrialization in low income countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Asuyama, Yoko & Chhun, Dalin & Fukunishi, Takahiro & Neou, Seiha & Yamagata, Tatsufumi, 2010. "Firm dynamics in the Cambodian garment industry: firm turnover, productivity growth, and wage profile under trade liberalization," IDE Discussion Papers 268, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    • Handle: RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper268
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Yamagata, Tatsufumi, 2006. "The Garment Industry in Cambodia: Its Role in Poverty Reduction through Export-Oriented Development," IDE Discussion Papers 62, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    10. Margit Molnar & Przemyslaw Kowalski, 2008. "Economic impacts of the phase-out in 2005 of quantitative restrictions under the Agreement on textiles and Clothing," STUDIES IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT, in: Escap (ed.), Unveiling Protectionism: Regional Responses to Remaining Barriers in the Textiles and Clothing Trade, pages 49-83 pag, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
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    12. Melanie Beresford, 2009. "The Cambodian clothing industry in the post-MFA environment: a review of developments," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 366-388.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huynh, Phu., 2016. "Assessing the gender pay gap in Asia's garment sector," ILO Working Papers 994904713402676, International Labour Organization.
    2. Tanaka, Kiyoyasu & Greaney, Theresa M., 2024. "Trade and employment in the formal and informal sectors: A natural experiment from Cambodia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Raymond Robertson, 2022. "Pioneering a new approach to improving working conditions in developing countries: Better Factories Cambodia," Chapters, in: Handbook on Globalisation and Labour Standards, chapter 20, pages 359-381, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Kokas, Deeksha & Roche Rodriguez, Jaime Alfonso & Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys & Robertson, Raymond & Karamba, Wendy, 2024. "Exports and Jobs for Inclusive Growth in Cambodia," IZA Discussion Papers 17209, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Kiyoyasu Tanaka, 2021. "The European Union's reform in rules of origin and international trade: Evidence from Cambodia," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(10), pages 3025-3050, October.
    6. Muhammad Faisol Chowdhury & Tasnim Rezoana Tanim, 2016. "Industrial Accidents in Bangladesh Apparel Manufacturing Sector: An Analysis of the Two Most Deadliest Accidents In History," Asian Journal of Social Sciences and Management Studies, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 3(2), pages 115-126.
    7. Souksavanh Vixathep & Nobuaki Matsunaga, 2012. "Firm Efficiency in Cambodia's Garment Industry on the Eve of the Multi-Fiber Arrangement Termination," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 26(4), pages 359-380, December.
    8. Arif Mostafa Khan & Meine Pieter van Dijk, 2024. "The role of multi‐stakeholder initiatives in advancing circularity and social sustainability in the textiles sector of Bangladesh," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(3), pages 1765-1788, April.
    9. Fukunishi, Takahiro & Yamagata, Tatsufumi, 2013. "Slow and steady wins the race : how the garment industry leads industrialization in low-income countries," IDE Discussion Papers 412, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    10. Phon, Sophat, 2016. "The impacts of investment on climate change:the case study of Cambodia," MPRA Paper 88059, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2018.
    11. Souksavanh VIXATHEP & Nobuaki MATSUNAGA, 2015. "Entrepreneurial Human and Social Capital in Small Businesses in Vietnam - An Extended Analysis -," GSICS Working Paper Series 29, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University.
    12. Goto, Kenta, 2012. "Is the Vietnamese garment industry at a turning point? : upgrading from the export to the domestic market," IDE Discussion Papers 373, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cambodia; Firm turnover; Garments; Labor-intensive industrialization; Multifibre arrangement; Race to the bottom; Total factor productivity; Apparel industry; Productivity; Wages; Employment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L67 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Consumer Nondurables: Clothing, Textiles, Shoes, and Leather Goods; Household Goods; Sports Equipment
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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