Testing the core-competency model of multi-product exporters

Javorcik B, Neary P, Eckel C, Iacovone L

We review the implications of the "core competence" model of multi-product firms, including the “market-size paradox”: for most countries, the world market is much larger than the home market, while the costs of accessing foreign markets are relatively low; hence the model predicts that most domestic firms should export more of their core products than they sell domestically; yet, in practice, we do not observe this. Extending the model to allow for investment in export market penetration resolves the puzzle, and Mexican data confirm its predictions: in particular,only the largest firms exhibit the dominance of exports over home sales.

Keywords:

core competence model

,

export market penetration costs

,

flexible manufacturing

,

multi-product firms