Publication: Learning-by-Doing, Learning-by-Exporting, and Productivity : Evidence
from Colombia
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Published
2005-03
ISSN
Date
2012-06-25
Author(s)
Isgut, Alberto E.
Editor(s)
Abstract
The empirical evidence on whether participation in export markets increases plant-level productivity has been inconclusive so far. The authors explain this inconclusiveness by drawing on Arrow's (1962) characterization of learning-by-doing, which suggests focusing on young plants and using measures of export experience rather than export participation. They find strong evidence of learning-by-exporting for young Colombian manufacturing plants between 1981 and 1991: total factor productivity increases 4-5 percent for each additional year a plant has exported, after controlling for the effect of current exports on total factor productivity. Learning-by-exporting is more important for young than for old plants and in industries that deliver a larger percentage of their exports to high-income countries.
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Citation
“Isgut, Alberto E.; Fernandes, Ana M.. 2005. Learning-by-Doing, Learning-by-Exporting, and Productivity : Evidence
from Colombia. Policy Research Working Paper; No. 3544. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/8975 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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