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The survival of Latvian products and firms in export markets

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  • Konstantins Benkovskis
  • Peter Jarrett
  • Zeev Krill
  • Olegs Tkacevs
  • Naomitsu Yashiro

Abstract

This paper investigates factors that contribute to the survival of export relationships at the firm and product levels using a large anonymised firm-level database for Latvia. It finds that some characteristics of exporting firms, such as a higher productivity level, larger size, lower indebtedness and higher profitability are associated with longer duration of export relationships. Firms that innovated prior to exporting are also likely to enjoy longer export spells, while participation in an EU-fund support programme did not alter duration. Younger staff and management of the firm are associated with a better survival of a new export product. Furthermore, this paper reveals novel roles of export product characteristics in survival, in particular an interesting tension between the complexity of new export products and their “distance” from the existing export bundle. While aiming high, that is, exporting products that are more complex, pays off as such products are associated with longer-lasting trade relationships, aiming too high, that is exporting new products that are far more complex than the exporter’s existing product bundle, tends to lower their survival probability.

Suggested Citation

  • Konstantins Benkovskis & Peter Jarrett & Zeev Krill & Olegs Tkacevs & Naomitsu Yashiro, 2022. "The survival of Latvian products and firms in export markets," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1712, OECD Publishing.
  • Handle: RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:1712-en
    DOI: 10.1787/c304c19c-en
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic complexity; Exports; innovation; productivity; trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • P45 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - International Linkages
    • H81 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Governmental Loans; Loan Guarantees; Credits; Grants; Bailouts

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