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Productivity Convergence at the Firm Level

Author

Listed:
  • Kiyohiko G. Nishimura

    (Policy Board, Bank of Japan)

  • Takanobu Nakajima

    (Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University)

  • Kozo Kiyota

    (Faculty of Business Administration, Yokohama National University)

Abstract

Productivity convergence among countries has been investigated extensively with mixed results. This paper extends the analysis to the firm level to shed light on the debate of convergence or non-convergence. We find productivity convergence among firms widely in Japan, in both manufacturing industries and non-manufacturing ones. We obtain these results taking explicit account of exiting firms as a source of selection biases. The convergence rate is much faster among firms than countries. We also find that there are substantial differences among industries in the convergence speed. IT industries that heavily rely on technological progress show faster rates of convergence.

Suggested Citation

  • Kiyohiko G. Nishimura & Takanobu Nakajima & Kozo Kiyota, 2005. "Productivity Convergence at the Firm Level," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-341, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2005cf341
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thanh Tam Nguyen-Huu & Minh Nguyen-Khac & Quoc Tran-Nam, 2017. "The role of environmental regulations and innovation in TFP convergence: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam," WIDER Working Paper Series 092, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Paul-Antoine Chevalier & Rémy Lecat & Nicholas Oulton, 2008. "Convergence de la productivité des entreprises, mondialisation, technologies de l’information et concurrence," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 419(1), pages 101-124.
    3. Kiyohiko G. Nishimura & Takanobu Nakajima & Kozo Kiyota, 2005. "Innovation Versus Diffusion: Determinants of Productivity Growth Among Japanese Firms," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-350, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    4. Shubin Yang & Sandra Lancheros & Chris Milner, 2021. "Technological Catch-up to the National and Regional Frontier: Firm-level Evidence for India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(8), pages 1303-1320, August.
    5. Paul Conway & Lisa Meehan & Guanyu Zheng, 2015. "Do New Zealand firms catch up to the domestic productivity frontier?," Working Papers 2015/03, New Zealand Productivity Commission.
    6. Stucchi, Rodolfo, 2008. "Catching up in total factor productivity through the business cycle : evidence from Spanish manufacturing surveys," UC3M Working papers. Economics we085125, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.
    7. Paul-Antoine Chevalier & Rémy Lecat & Nicholas Oulton, 2009. "Convergence of Firm-Level Productivity, Globalisation, Information Technology and Competition: Evidence from France," CEP Discussion Papers dp0916, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    8. Alexander Kopka & Dirk Fornahl, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and firm growth — catch-up processes of SMEs through integrating AI into their knowledge bases," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 63-85, January.

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