Trade Liberalization, Quality, and Export Prices

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Fan, Haichao; Li, Yao Amber; Yeaple, Stephen R.
• 署名单位: Shanghai University of Finance & Economics; Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; National Bureau of Economic Research; Pennsylvania Commonwealth System of Higher Education (PCSHE); Pennsylvania State University; Pennsylvania State University - University Park; Leibniz Association; Ifo Institut
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/REST_a_00524
• 发表日期: 2015-12
• 页码: 1033-1051
• 关键词: intermediate inputs; PRODUCTIVITY; GROWTH; FIRMS

摘要

This paper presents theory and evidence from disaggregated Chinese data that tariff reductions induce a country's producers to upgrade the quality of their exports. We first document stylized facts regarding the effect of trade liberalization on export prices. Next, we develop an analytic framework that relates a firm's choice of quality to its access to imported intermediates. In the model, a reduction in import tariffs induces a firm to increase export quality and raise its export price in industries where the scope for quality differentiation is large and lower its export price in industries where the scope is small. The predictions are consistent with the stylized facts and are highly robust econometrically.