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สถาบันวิจัยเศรษฐกิจป๋วย อึ๊งภากรณ์
Puey Ungphakorn
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Call for Papers: PIER Research Workshop 2025
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4 June 2020
20201591228800000
No. 139

Understanding the Bimodality of the Export Intensity Distribution in Thailand

Abstract

The literature has established a pattern that exporters in developed countries sell most of their output in their domestic markets. However, recent evidence finds that firm-level export intensity, defined as the ratio of exports to revenue, in at least 47 countries is bimodally distributed. In this paper, we investigate the determinants of the bimodality of Thailand's export intensity distribution by using Thailand's manufacturing firm-level census data covering the period between 2007–2017. We do not find evidence that firm productivity can explain the variation in export intensity. We document that firms with export intensity at least 90 percent, so-called “pure exporters,” can be explained by (i) the firm's characteristics, (ii) the demand-side factor, and (iii) the government's policy. Pure exporters are relatively young, have foreign ownership, produce narrow product variety, and export to high-income countries. The government's policy, such as investment promotion, can raise firms' export intensity and encourage firms to become pure exporters, there by emphasizing another important channel through which the government can increase exports.

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JEL: F1
Tags: export intensityfirm-level heterogeneitybimodality
The views expressed in this workshop do not necessarily reflect the views of the Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research or the Bank of Thailand.
Doungdao Mahakitsiri
Doungdao Mahakitsiri
Chulalongkorn University
Wisarut Suwanprasert
Wisarut Suwanprasert
Middle Tennessee State University

Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research

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Phone: 0-2283-6066

Email: pier@bot.or.th

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