Is Exporting a Source of Productivity Spillovers?

Abstract

This paper investigates whether exporting generates positive productivity spillover effects on other plants operating in the same industry and whether exporting affects productivity of plants in vertically related industries. Using plant-level data from Chile we find that exporters improve productivity of their local suppliers but not of plants that purchase intermediate inputs from them. We also find evidence of horizontal spillovers from exporting. Exporting by foreign-owned plants generates positive spillovers in all directions: to their suppliers, customers, and to other plants in the same industry. Domestic exporters increase productivity of their suppliers and, to a lesser extent, that of plants in the same sector.