Skip to Main Navigation
VideoMarch 5, 2018

Exporter Dynamics, Superstar Firms, and Trade Policy

The backlash against globalization grows by the day. Yet the importance of trade for growth remains as strong as ever, and most developing countries continue to prioritize export growth and diversification in their development strategies. In this talk, Ana Fernandes discussed how the Exporter Dynamics Database—a data collection effort made possible by the digitalization of customs agencies around the world—is shedding new light on questions about key patterns in export participation, survival, expansion, and concentration at the firm level. The data reveal that superstar firms play a vital role in export growth, but are relatively scarce in developing countries.