Research and analysis

Feasibility study: the relationship between productivity and trade

The aim of this study is to understand the evidence base on the role trade plays in facilitating growth and productivity at the UK national, sectoral, and firm level.

• From: Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 25 September 2023

Documents

The relationship between trade and productivity: a feasibility study

PDF, 15.1 MB, 98 pages

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Details

The study has investigated the following 4 research questions:

1. What are the recent literature and empirical findings on the mechanisms that explain the relationship between the exporting and/or importing status of firms and their productivity, (including how productivity is defined)?

2. How do importing firms perform on productivity against exporting firms? What, if any, are the impacts of trade frictions on productivity?

3. How can we quantify the impact of changes in trade on productivity and consequently impacts to the economy, businesses, and jobs of UK nations and English regions?

4. What are the different approaches to measuring the impact of trade on productivity at the UK, sector, and firm level?

Published 25 September 2023