Breinlich, Holger and Criscuolo, Chiara (2011) International trade in services: a portrait of importers and exporters. Journal of International Economics, 84 (2). pp. 188-206. ISSN 0022-1996
Abstract
We provide a novel set of stylized facts on firms engaging in international trade in services, using unique data on firm-level exports and imports from the world's second largest services exporter, the United Kingdom (UK). We show that only a fraction of UK firms engage in international trade in services, that trade participation varies widely across industries and that service traders are different from non-traders in terms of size, productivity and other firm characteristics. We also provide detailed evidence on the trading patterns of service exporters and importers, such as the number of markets served, the value of exports and imports per market and the share of individual markets in overall sales. We interpret these facts in the light of existing theories of international trade in services and goods. Our results demonstrate that firm-level heterogeneity is a key feature of services trade. Also, we find many similarities between services and goods trade at the firm level and conclude that existing heterogeneous firm models for goods trade will be a good starting point for explaining trade in services as well.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescriptio... |
| Additional Information: | © 2011 Elsevier |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | H Social Sciences > HF Commerce |
| Journal of Economic Literature Classification System: | F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Country and Industry Studies of Trade F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F19 - Other F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F23 - Multinational Firms; International Business |
| Sets: | Research centres and groups > Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) |
| Identification Number: | UT ISI:000292667800005 |
| Date Deposited: | 17 May 2011 13:26 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/36220/ |
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