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Firm Heterogeneity and Development: Evidence from Latin American countries

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  • H.H. Chang
  • C. van Marrewijk
Abstract
Motivated by the work of Melitz (2003), Helpman, et al. (2004) and Yeaple (2005), micro-firm data provided by the World Bank Enterprise Survey is used to study the empirical productivity distribution across 15 Latin American countries. This paper differs from previous work in identifying four types of firms by their ownership characteristics and their exporting status. We compare the productivity distribution of these four types of firms to reflect on theoretical modeling deficiencies. First, the productivity distributions for each type show no sign of a productivity cut-off at the lower end, contrary to current theoretical modeling. Second, we see that exporting activities are nonexclusive to firms with high productivity. In other words, by distinguishing groups of firms with different degrees of international involvement (domestic producers, exporters, nationally-owned and foreign-owned firms), we find that the productivity distributions of different groups of firms overlap with one another. This contradicts with the modeling in Melitz (2003), which suggests sorting into different international engagement according to productivity level. Third, we find a superior productivity distribution among foreign-owned firms as compared to domestic firms. The foreign ownership premium is significant and more prevailing in the services sectors than the manufacturing sectors. Exporters also show superior productivity, but this productivity premium is only enjoyed by the nationally-owned manufacturers. Lastly, with the cross-country data, we find a positive relationship between the overall productivity level and a country's development level, as often found in other research. In addition, we find that firms in the services sectors are less constrained by the macroeconomic development level of the country and are able to advance is productivity level with individual micro-firm characteristics than firms in the manufacturing sector.

Suggested Citation

  • H.H. Chang & C. van Marrewijk, 2011. "Firm Heterogeneity and Development: Evidence from Latin American countries," Working Papers 11-14, Utrecht School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:use:tkiwps:1114
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    Cited by:

    1. Demena, B.A. & Msami, J. & Mmari, D.E. & van Bergeijk, P.A.G., 2021. "Productivity premia and firm heterogeneity in Eastern Africa," ISS Working Papers - General Series 680, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    2. Naudé, Wim & Gries, Thomas & Bilkic, Natasa, 2015. "Playing the lottery or dressing up? A model of firm-level heterogeneity and the decision to export," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1-17.
    3. Yoshimichi Murakami, 2021. "Trade liberalization and wage inequality: Evidence from Chile," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 407-438, April.
    4. Schmerer, Hans-Jörg & Capuano, Stella & Egger, Hartmut & Koch, Michael, 2015. "Offshoring and Firm Overlap," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113147, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    5. Peter A.G. van Bergeijk & Charles van Marrewijk, 2013. "Heterogeneity and development: An agenda," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 1-10, February.
    6. Naudé, Wim & Matthee, Marianne, 2012. "Do Export Costs Matter in Determining Whether, When, and How Much African Firms Export?," Working Papers 38, JICA Research Institute.
    7. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Charles van Marrewijk & Arjen van Witteloostuijn, 2023. "The location of cross‐border and national mergers and acquisitions within the United States," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 177-206, January.
    8. Tamminen, Saara & van den Berg, Marcel & van Marrewijk, Charles, 2016. "Trade, Productivity and Profits: On Profit levels and Profit margins," Working Papers 80, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    9. Naudé, Wim & Gries, Thomas & Bilkic, Natasa, 2013. "Firm-Level Heterogeneity and the Decision to Export: A Real Option Approach," IZA Discussion Papers 7346, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Alguacil, Maite & Martí, Josep & Orts, Vicente, 2023. "Firms’ characteristics and their international location strategy: Micro-level evidence from European countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 97-113.

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    Keywords

    Firm heterogeneity; Productivity distribution; Exporting; Development; Latin America;
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