Micro-exporters and productivityrevisiting the self-selection effect, the learning by exporting effect and the exporter premium

Abstract

The thesis categorizes and studies a new group of exporting firms characterized by exporting very small amounts per year but representing a majority of exporters in many countries, coined as micro-exporters. Employing firm-level data of Spanish manufacturing firms over the period 1990-2015, the thesis examines using parametric and non-parametric tests if micro-exporters have better performance characteristics than non-exporters, with an emphasis on productivity, and if this exporter premium is a consequence of the self-selection effect or the learning by exporting effect. Contrary to the mainstream literature, the thesis presents conclusive evidence that micro-exporters do not have better performance characteristics than non-exporters and that they are also neither subject to the self-selection effect nor to the learning by exporting effect. This categorization of micro-exporting firms expands the international trade literature by increasing the visibility of a neglected group of exporters with consequential implications for business strategy and economic policy principles.