Product and Factor Market Distortions: The Case of the Manufacturing Sector in Morocco

28 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2017 Last revised: 2 Aug 2019

Date Written: October 13, 2017

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of market distortions in the manufacturing sector in Morocco. Recent microdata are used to calculate the extent of resource misallocation associated to these distortions and the potential total factor productivity (TFP) gain resulting from their removal. Market distortions in the manufacturing sector in Morocco are higher compared with developed countries and slightly more important compared with other developing countries, such as China and India. These distortions decreased between 2007 and 2013. Full liberalization would raise TFP by about 84 percent. If distortions are removed to the level of selected developed countries with better resource allocation, the increase in TFP would be of 56 percent. The paper also finds that industries that are more opened to competition (international and domestic) such as machinery and textiles industries present lower levels of market distortions compared with more protected industries with relatively little competition, such as the food industry. Besides, a higher level of TFP can be achieved if more resources are allocated to ?young? and ?small? firms. The main results of the paper are robust to an alternative estimation that uses a different methodological framework with a less extensive theoretical framework. The paper discusses policies to further limit the extent of product and factor market distortions in Morocco.

Keywords: Governance Diagnostic Capacity Building, Economic Forecasting, Macroeconomic Management, Construction Industry, Common Carriers Industry, Food & Beverage Industry, Textiles, Apparel & Leather Industry, Pulp & Paper Industry, Plastics & Rubber Industry, General Manufacturing, Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies, International Trade and Trade Rules, Labor Markets, Trade and Services

Suggested Citation

Chauffour, Jean-Pierre and Diaz Sanchez, Jose Luis and Chauffour, Jean-Pierre Christophe, Product and Factor Market Distortions: The Case of the Manufacturing Sector in Morocco (October 13, 2017). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 8218, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3053013

Jean-Pierre Chauffour (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Jose Luis Diaz Sanchez

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Jean-Pierre Christophe Chauffour

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
76
Abstract Views
381
Rank
518,730
PlumX Metrics