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Frontiers of Economics in China

ISSN 1673-3444

ISSN 1673-3568(Online)

CN 11-5744/F

Postal Subscription Code 80-978

Front. Econ. China    2015, Vol. 10 Issue (2) : 301-334    https://doi.org/10.3868/s060-004-015-0013-2
research-article
Heterogeneous Firms in Importing: Theory and Evidence from China
Yuting Chen()
School of Economics, Singapore Management University, Singapore 178903, Singapore
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Abstract

In this study, I explore the effects of the financial status of firms on its decisions to import. The import decision is reflected in various aspects, such as whether to import or buy from home market; what types of goods to import, etc. A novelty of this analysis is that I distinguish between ordinary trade and processing trade, which involves importing inputs to be assembled and re-exported. Several novel patterns emerge. Firstly, a firm’s financial status, especially its liquidity, significantly influences its decisions to import. Secondly, regional financial development also has a significantly affect importing decisions. However, a firm’s creditworthiness and regional factors work independently (i.e., regional financial development does not alleviate a firm’s credit constraints). The findings yield implications for developing economies which demand technological spillovers from advanced markets and those which maintain large trade surpluses with the developed economies.

Keywords heterogeneous firms      import      credit constraints     
Issue Date: 19 June 2015
 Cite this article:   
Yuting Chen. Heterogeneous Firms in Importing: Theory and Evidence from China[J]. Front. Econ. China, 2015, 10(2): 301-334.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.3868/s060-004-015-0013-2
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/Y2015/V10/I2/301
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