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The Effects of Trade Liberalization on Productivity and Welfare: The Role of Firm Heterogeneity, R&D and Market Structure

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  • Stähler, Frank
  • Raff, Horst
  • Long, Ngo Van

Abstract

This paper develops an oligopolistic model of international trade with heterogeneous firms and endogenous R&D to examine how trade liberalization affects firm and industry productivity, as well as social welfare. We identify four effects of trade liberalization on productivity: (i) a direct effect through changes in R&D investment; (ii) a scale effect due to changes in firm size; (iii) a selection effect due to inefficient firms leaving the market; and (iv) a market-share reallocation effect as efficient firms expand and inefficient firms reduce their output. We show how these effects operate in the short run when market structure is fixed, and in the long run when market structure is endogenous. Among the robust results that hold for any market structure are that trade liberalization (i) increases (decreases) aggregate R&D for low (high) trade costs; (ii) increases expected firm size if trade costs are high; and (iii) raises expected social welfare if trade costs are low.

Suggested Citation

  • Stähler, Frank & Raff, Horst & Long, Ngo Van, 2007. "The Effects of Trade Liberalization on Productivity and Welfare: The Role of Firm Heterogeneity, R&D and Market Structure," Economics Working Papers 2007-20, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cauewp:5686
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicolas Coeurdacier & Roberto A. De Santis & Antonin Aviat, 2009. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions and European integration [‘Capital flows in a globalised world: The role of policies and institutions’]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 24(57), pages 56-106.
    2. Antonio Navas-Ruiz & Davide Sala, 2007. "Technology Adoption and the Selection Effect of Trade," Economics Working Papers ECO2007/58, European University Institute.
    3. Michele Imbruno, 2008. "EXPORTING, PRODUCTIVITY AND MARKET INTEGRATON: Italian manufacturing firms within the European context," Quaderni DSEMS 22-2008, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche, Matematiche e Statistiche, Universita' di Foggia.
    4. Anderson, Kym & Lattimore, Ralph G. & Lloyd, Peter J. & MacLaren, Donald, 2007. "Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in Australia and New Zealand," 2007 Conference (51st), February 13-16, 2007, Queenstown, New Zealand 10407, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    5. Crespo, Aranzazu, 2012. "Trade, Innovation and Productivity: A Quantitative Analysis of Europe," MPRA Paper 57162, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Jaroslava Hečková & Alexandra Chapčáková & Eva Litavcová, 2016. "Ekonomická integrácia a jej vplyv na cezhraničné fúzie a akvizície v európskom priestore [Economic Integration and Its Influence on Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions within the European Area]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2016(1), pages 19-33.
    7. Julian P. Christ & Patricia Hofmann, 2010. "International Openness and Patent Activity: First Descriptive Results Very preliminary draft," DEGIT Conference Papers c015_055, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade.
    8. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/c8dmi8nm4pdjkuc9g70aj72cl is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Ram Upendra Das, 2015. "Trade and Investment Liberalization in India: Implications for Productivity Gains," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Khee Giap Tan & Kong Yam Tan (ed.), Foreign Direct Investment and Small and Medium Enterprises Productivity and Access to Finance, chapter 3, pages 35-55, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    10. Zufarova, Nargiza, 2010. "EU regional trade vulnerabilities, liberalization and potential lessons for Uzbekistan trade reforms," Perspectives of Innovations, Economics and Business (PIEB), Prague Development Center (PRADEC), vol. 6(3), pages 1-4, October.
    11. Itai Agur, 2010. "Trade Liberalization, Firm Selection, and Variety Growth," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 582-594, August.
    12. Nargiza Zufarova, 2010. "Eu Regional Trade Vulnerabilities, Liberalization And Potential Lessons For Uzbekistan Trade Reforms," Perspectives of Innovation in Economics and Business (PIEB), Prague Development Center, vol. 6(3), pages 71-74, October.
    13. Patricia Hofmann, 2008. "Globalization and Technical Progress: Channels of Reciprocal Interaction A Literature Review," DEGIT Conference Papers c013_011, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade.
    14. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/c8dmi8nm4pdjkuc9g70aj72cl is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international trade; firm heterogeneity; R&D; productivity; market structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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