The Effect of Structural Reforms on Productivity and Profitability Enhancing Reallocation: Evidence from Colombia

49 Pages Posted: 25 Mar 2004 Last revised: 1 May 2022

See all articles by Marcela Eslava

Marcela Eslava

University of the Andes (CEDE)

Adriana D. Kugler

McCourt School of Public Policy ; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); IZA Institute of Labor Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

John Haltiwanger

University of Maryland - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Maurice Kugler

Wilfrid Laurier University - School of Business & Economics; Harvard University - Center for International Development (CID); Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: March 2004

Abstract

In the U.S., some sectoral evidence suggests that growth is driven mainly by productivity enhancing reallocation. In countries with greater barriers to entry and imperfect competition, the reallocation process may be inefficient. Therefore, for developing countries, an open question is whether reallocation is productivity enhancing. Using a unique plant-level longitudinal dataset for Colombia for the period 1982-1998 we examine the interaction between market allocation, productivity and profitability. Given the important trade, labor and financial market oriented reforms in Colombia in 1990, we explore whether and how the contribution of reallocation changed. Our data include plant-level quantities and prices. Using plant prices, we propose a sequential methodology to estimate productivity and demand shocks. First, with plant-level physical output data, we estimate total factor productivity (TFP) using downstream demand to instrument for inputs. Then, with plant-level price data, we estimate demand shocks and mark-ups in the inverse-demand equation, using TFP to instrument for output. We characterize the evolution of TFP and demand shock distributions. Market reforms are associated with rising overall productivity that is driven by reallocation away from low- and towards high-productivity businesses; and, the allocation of activity across businesses is less driven by demand factors.

Suggested Citation

Eslava, Marcela and Kugler, Adriana Debora and Haltiwanger, John C. and Kugler, Maurice, The Effect of Structural Reforms on Productivity and Profitability Enhancing Reallocation: Evidence from Colombia (March 2004). NBER Working Paper No. w10367, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=516708

Marcela Eslava

University of the Andes (CEDE) ( email )

Carrera 1a No. 18A-10
Santafe de Bogota, AA4976
Colombia

Adriana Debora Kugler

McCourt School of Public Policy ( email )

3700 O ST NW
311 Old North
Washington, DC 20057
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

London
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

John C. Haltiwanger (Contact Author)

University of Maryland - Department of Economics ( email )

College Park, MD 20742
United States
301-405-3504 (Phone)
301-405-3542 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Maurice Kugler

Wilfrid Laurier University - School of Business & Economics ( email )

Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5
CANADA

Harvard University - Center for International Development (CID) ( email )

One Eliot Street Building
79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) ( email )

57 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2
Canada

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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

Paper statistics

Downloads
52
Abstract Views
1,433
Rank
525,226
PlumX Metrics