Service trade and occupational tasks: an empirical investigation

Ariu, Andrea and Mion, Giordano (2011) Service trade and occupational tasks: an empirical investigation. CEP Discussion Papers (CEPDP1107). London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance, London, UK.

Text - Published Version Download (914kB)

• Author
• https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/...

Abstract

Using micro data for Belgium we investigate the relationship between occupational tasks changes and the rise of service trade. We focus the analysis on the extensive margin and look at the heterogeneous proliferation of firms involved in exports and imports of services across sectors characterized by different tasks changes patterns. Occupational tasks changes display an extremely consistent relationship with participation to service trade across firm groups pointing to strong churning effects. The change in analytical (interactive and routine cognitive) tasks intensity has a positive (negative) impact across the board meaning that, in industries characterized by larger changes, firms have experienced both higher (lower) likelihood of entry and exit. The negative relationship between the change in interactive tasks and service exports participation underlines the special role that proximity between demand and supply plays for services. Interestingly, we find exactly the opposite result (a positive relationship) between the extensive margin of goods exports and interactive tasks. Moreover, our analysis suggests that the change in IT use per se does not strike as being a key underlying force behind the increase in the extensive margin of service exports.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/discussion...
Additional Information:	© 2011 The Author(s)
Divisions:	Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
JEL classification:	F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Country and Industry Studies of Trade F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F16 - Trade and Labor Market Interactions O - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Technological Change; Research and Development > O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services > L80 - General
Date Deposited:	26 Feb 2024 11:51
Last Modified:	26 Feb 2024 11:51
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/121742

Actions (login required)

View Item