Market Size, Competitiveness and Technological Frontier - The Impact of Trade Integration with the UE on Productivity in Polish Manufacturing Sectors

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between growth of relative productivity in Polish manufacturing sectors and forces stemming from trade integration with the EU. We look at the productivity growth from the perspective of relations between Polish manufacturing sectors and the foreign ones, focusing on partner countries from the enlarged EU. Empirical analysis is based on sector level bilateral data concerning both domestic (Polish) and foreign market characteristics and degree of openness in the period 1995-2006. Main results indicate that, both in the short and long run, growth in domestic openness (independently on the direction of trade flows) exert positive effect on growth of relative productivity in Poland, while the opposite impact is exhibited by foreign openness. In addition, expansion in relative size of Polish sectors versus foreign ones is also among positive determinants of domestic labour productivity growth. The results suggest that domestic openness and market size effects have stimulated movement of Polish sectors towards the technological frontier with respect to the partner countries from the EU.

Keywords: labour productivity, trade, integration

JEL Classification: F14, F15, F16