Series: Occasional Papers. 1903.
Author: Eduardo Gutiérrez Chacón and César Martín Machuca.
Topics: International trade | SMEs and self-employed persons | European Union | Economic growth and convergence | Competitiveness.
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Abstract
During the last years, Spanish goods exports have increased significantly against a
background of widening of the Spanish firms exporting base. This change has been led by
SMEs, although there is still a high concentration of international sales in a small fraction
of large and stable exporters. In any case, potential export growth has improved thanks
to the widening of stable exporters base and to their geographical diversification towards
emerging markets. Exporting firms are greater and have higher labour productivity than
those focused only in domestic markets. Also within exporting firms, those with stable and
diversified external flows are positively selected in terms of productivity and size. The potential widening of the stable exporting base would require an improvement of the efficiency of the segment of SMEs. Removing potential regulatory barriers that might restrict their growth and innovation ability is key to consolidate their presence in international markets in the long run.