The Role of Imports for Exporter Performance in Peru

Pierola, Martha Denisse; Fernandes, Ana Margarida; Farole, Thomas

The Role of Imports for Exporter Performance in Peru

Autores

Pierola, Martha Denisse

Fernandes, Ana Margarida

Farole, Thomas

Editor

World Bank, Washington, DC

Descripción

Using highly disaggregated firm-level customs transaction data for imports and exports in Peru over the 2000–2012 period, this paper explores the relationship between imports of intermediate inputs and firm export performance. The paper shows that greater use, variety, and quality of imported intermediate inputs is significantly correlated with higher exports, faster export growth, greater diversification of export markets, and higher quality exports (as measured by relative unit prices) at the firm level. This relationship is robust and persistent to controls for unobserved firm heterogeneity and year fixed effects. The use of imported inputs is also associated with higher productivity at the firm level. Considering the relationship between specific trade policy measures and the import performance of those exporters that are direct importers, the analysis shows that those exposed to higher tariffs and nontariff measures import less in total and exhibit lower import variety. The use of the advanced clearance procedure as the modality to clear customs for imports is favorable to the import performance of exporter-importers, in that the users of the modality import more and import a more diversified bundle of inputs than those that do not use it, even after controlling for firm size.

Palabras clave

TARIFFS, GROWTH RATES, CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION, IMPORT GROWTH, EXPORT MARKETS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE PROCEDURES, TARIFF RATES, PRODUCTION, BARRIERS TO TRADE, IMPORT VALUE, CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, EXPORT SECTORS, INCOME, TOTAL IMPORTS, FOREIGN OWNERSHIP, IMPORT, EXPORT PERFORMANCE, GDP PER CAPITA, EXPORTS, TRANSMISSION OF TECHNOLOGY, POLITICAL ECONOMY, EXPORTERS, EXPORT PRICES, DEMAND ELASTICITIES, PORTFOLIO, VARIABLES, CUSTOMS TERRITORY, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE, INPUTS, TRADE PERFORMANCE, DUMMY VARIABLE, TARIFFS ON IMPORT, SPECIAL REGIME, TRENDS, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE, TRADE AGREEMENTS, POVERTY REDUCTION, FINAL GOODS, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES, CUSTOMS PROCEDURES, DEVELOPMENT, FOREIGN MARKETS, PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENTS, GROSS EXPORTS, FOREIGN TRADE, TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY, CURRENCY, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, EXPORT GROWTH, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LIBERALIZATIONS, TARIFF LINE, DOMESTIC INPUTS, FIXED COSTS, EXCHANGE RATES, CUSTOMS, PRODUCTIVITY, QUOTAS, APPAREL SECTOR, MARKETS, OIL IMPORTS, ACCESS, TRADE MODELS, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, IMPORTS, TRADE POLICY, INVENTORY, EXPORT MARKET, IMPORT DECLARATION, LIBERALIZATION, CUSTOMS TERRITORY, EXPORT VALUE, APPLIED TARIFF, PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH, CONSUMPTION, VALUE ADDED, TOTAL EXPORTS, CAPITAL, INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, VALUE, DEPENDENT VARIABLE, COMPETITIVENESS, PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS, IMPORT VALUES, FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY, WORLD ECONOMY, EXPORT PRODUCTS, DEMAND, DIVERSIFICATION OF EXPORT, TARIFF RATE, INTERMEDIATE GOODS, ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE, IMPORT GROWTH, OIL EXPORTS, TRADE FACILITATION, MEASUREMENT, IMPORT SHARE, LOCAL CURRENCY, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, PRODUCTION FUNCTION, EXPORTER, CAPITAL GOODS, FIXED EFFECTS, EXPOSURE, EXPORT SECTOR, ENDOGENOUS GROWTH THEORY, TRADE, GDP, GOODS, THEORY, CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES, HIGH- INCOME COUNTRIES, INPUT TRADE, INVESTMENT CLIMATE, PREFERENTIAL TRADE, CUSTOMS VALUE, CUSTOMS CLEARANCE PROCEDURES, TARIFF, SUPPLY, INTERMEDIATE IMPORTS, TRADE FACILITATION, TARIFFS ON IMPORTS, IMPORT DECLARATION, GROWTH THEORY, TARIFF RATE, TOTAL OUTPUT, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, INTERMEDIATE INPUTS, APPAREL, OUTCOMES, TECHNICAL BARRIERS, SOURCING, IMPORT VALUE, EXPORT SHARE, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, CONSOLIDATION, TOTAL EXPORT