Markups and Firm-Level Export Status
Jan De Loecker, Frederic Warzynski
American Economic Review · 2012 · Volume 102 · Issue 6
Abstract
In this paper, we develop a method to estimate markups using plant-level production data. Our approach relies on cost-minimizing producers and the existence of at least one variable input of production. The suggested empirical framework relies on the estimation of a production function and provides estimates of plant-level markups without specifying how firms compete in the product market. We rely on our method to explore the relationship between markups and export behavior. We find that markups are estimated significantly higher when controlling for unobserved productivity; that exporters charge, on average, higher markups and that markups increase upon export entry. (JEL D22, D24, F14, L11, L60)
Keywords
Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis, Production, Cost, Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity, Capacity, Empirical Studies of Trade, Pricing, and Market Structure, Size Distribution of Firms, Industry Studies: Manufacturing: General
Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.