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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Trade Liberalization, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Indonesia

Author(s): Mary Amiti and Jozef Konings

Publication Date: June 2005

Keyword(s): inputs, productivity and tariffs

Programme Area(s): Industrial Organization, Institutions and Economic Performance and International Trade and Regional Economics

Abstract: This paper estimates the effects of trade liberalization on plant productivity. In contrast to previous studies, we distinguish between productivity gains arising from lower tariffs on final goods relative to those on intermediate inputs. Lower output tariffs can produce productivity gains by inducing tougher import competition whereas cheaper imported inputs can raise productivity via learning, variety or quality effects. We use Indonesian manufacturing census data from 1991 to 2001, which includes plant level information on imported inputs. The results show that the largest gains arise from reducing input tariffs. A 10 percentage point fall in output tariffs increases productivity by about 1%, whereas an equivalent fall in input tariffs leads to a 3% productivity gain for all firms and an 11% productivity gain for importing firms.

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Bibliographic Reference

Amiti, M and Konings, J. 2005. 'Trade Liberalization, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Indonesia'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=5104