Firm Heterogeneity and Aggregate Business Services Exports: Micro Evidence from Belgium, France, Germany and Spain

Abstract

The purpose of these working papers is to promote the circulation of research results (Research Series) and analytical studies (Documents Series) made within the National Bank of Belgium or presented by external economists in seminars, conferences and conventions organised by the Bank. The aim is therefore to provide a platform for discussion. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bank of Belgium. OrdersFor orders and information on subscriptions and reductions: National Bank of Belgium,

An account of the exporter wage gap: Wage structure and composition effects across the wage distribution

“…Lastly, the empirical evidence we have reviewed is largely restricted to the study of the manufacturing sector, and it ignores a set of well‐documented facts, that is, the prominent role of trade in services (Ariu et al, 2019), the resilience of services to crises (Ariu, 2016) and the key role played by firm‐level heterogeneity in services trade (Breinlich & Criscuolo, 2011; Loof, 2010). Services might possess unique attributes such as intangibility or inseparability, and this has some implications for trade.…”