Do bigger and older firms learn more from exporting? — Evidence from China
Journal
China Economic Review
Journal Volume
45
Pages
89-102
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Liu B.J.
Abstract
The literature has extensively discussed whether firms benefit from exporting (referred to as the learning-by-exporting (LBE) effect), but the empirical evidence is inconclusive. This paper draws on firm experience (age) to explain this question by using Chinese firm-level data for the period 1998–2007 to examine whether younger firms learn more from exporting than older firms. Employing propensity score matching and the difference-in-difference approach, we show significant LBE effects for older firms, especially those engaging in R&D activities, having large-scale production, and under private ownership. However, the yearly or cumulative LBE effects are either insignificant or rather limited for younger firms regardless of their R&D status and firm size. ? 2017 Elsevier Inc.
Subjects
China study; Firm age; Firm experience; Firm size; Learning-by-exporting
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article