Detecting Learning by Exporting and from Exporters

Existing literature at the nexus of firm productivity and export behavior mostly focuses on “learning by exporting,” whereby firms can improve their performance engaging in exports. Whereas, secondary channel learning via cross-firm spillovers from exporting peers, or exporters,” has largely been neglected. Omitting this important mechanism, which benefit both exporters non-exporters, may provide an incomplete assessment total benefits exporting. In paper, we develop a unified empirical framework for measurement that explicitly accommodates channels. To do this, formalize evolution as export-controlled process, allowing future to be affected firm’s own well spatially proximate, same-industry peers. This facilitates simultaneous, “internally consistent” identification corresponding effects We apply our methodology panel manufacturing plants Chile 1995–2007 find significant evidence support direct spillover substantially boost domestic firms.