Exports, Export Destinations, and Skills
Abstract
This paper explores the links between exports, export destinations, and skill utilization. We identify two mechanisms behind these links: differences across destinations in quality valuation and in exporting required services, activities that are intensive in skilled labor. Depending on the characteristics of the source country (income, language), the theories suggest a skill-bias in export destinations. We test the theory using a panel of Argentine manufacturing firms. We find that Argentine firms exporting to high-income countries hired more skilled workers than other exporters and domestic firms. Instead, we cannot identify any causal effect of exporting per se on skill utilization. (JEL F14, F16, J24, L60, O14, O19)
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The Brambilla et al. (2012) regression is a sharp design.
“This is a sharp design.”
From Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects (2020) · cites this paper as Brambilla et al. (2012)
The stable groups assumption is presumably satisfied for the Brambilla et al. (2012) regression because it is likely that between each pair of consecutive periods, there are firms whose ratio of exports to sales does not change.
“The stable groups assumption is presumably satisfied: it is likely that between each pair of consecutive periods, there are firms whose ratio of exports to sales does not change.”
From Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects (2020) · cites this paper as Brambilla et al. (2012)
In the Brambilla et al. (2012) regression in the first column of Table 2, the dependent variable is a measure of skills in the labor force employed by firm i in industry j at period t, and the explanatory variables are firm and industry × period fixed effects, the ratio of exports to sales in firm i at period t, and controls.
“In the regression in, say, the first column of Table 2, the dependent variable is a measure of skills in the labor force employed by firm i in industry j at period t, and the explanatory variables are firm and industry × period fixed effects, the ratio of exports to sales in firm i at period t, and some controls.”
From Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects (2020) · cites this paper as Brambilla et al. (2012)
The Brambilla et al. (2012) regression corresponds to Regression 1, with some controls.
“This regression corresponds to Regression 1, with some controls.”
From Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects (2020) · cites this paper as Brambilla et al. (2012)
Cites
Instrumental Variables Regression with Weak Instruments
Staiger, D., & Stock, J. (1994) · doi:10.3386/t0151 · Cited by 5,302 · see citing works
Trading Tasks: A Simple Theory of Offshoring
Grossman, G. M., & Rossi-Hansberg, E. (2008) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.98.5.1978 · Cited by 2,262 · see citing works
Bustos, P. (2011) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.101.1.304 · Cited by 1,552 · see citing works
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Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects
de Chaisemartin, C., & D’Haultfœuille, X. (2020) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.20181169 · Cited by 5,031 · see citing works
Bustos, P. (2011) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.101.1.304 · Cited by 1,552 · see citing works
- Authors
- Brambilla, I., Lederman, D., & Porto, G.
- Affiliations
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- World Bank (US)
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata (AR)
- Venue
- American Economic Review
- Publisher
- American Economic Association
- Published
- 2012-12-01
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 3406-3438
- ISSN
- 0002-8282 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2038656046
- Cited by
- 353
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 46.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Economic Review (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Global trade and economics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic and Technological Innovation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › International Business and FDI
- Keywords
- exports, export markets, skill utilization, skilled workers, skill-biased trade, firm income, language
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