DP11799 Regulatory harmonization, profits, and productivity: Firm-level evidence from Morocco

Author(s):	Patricia Augier, Olivier Cadot, Marion Dovis
Publication Date:	January 2017
Keyword(s):	firms, Harmonization, Morocco, Non-Tariff Measures, productivity, Profit, Trade
JEL(s):	F13, F15
Programme Areas:	International Trade and Regional Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=11799

This paper combines a new database on non-tariff measures (NTMs) with Morocco's firm census to explore the effect of regulatory harmonization with the E.U. on firm-level outcomes. Exploiting cross-sectoral variation in the timing and extent of regulatory harmonization, we find that harmonization waves correlate with rises in labor productivity and with higher markups, allowing self-financing of the adaptation process at the firm level. We identify an induced market-structure change that made the observed rise in markups possible. Namely, harmonization temporarily sheltered the Moroccan market from competition from low-end producers in other developing countries, who took time to adapt. We identified this effect through changes in both trade patterns and firm-level outcomes. Thus, harmonization apparently generated a self-financing adaptation process by affecting both firm-level incentives and market structure.