Six comparisons of firm-level and product-level data

Abstract

We compare readily available product-level export data with hard-to-obtain firm-level export data along six dimensions such as value and the number of destination countries. We find the product data qualitatively match the firm-level data, but not quantitatively, particularly on dynamics. This is due to the categorization of products. However, product data can be used to establish a lower estimate on statistics compared with firm-level data that may be useful in monopolistic competition models of international trade.

Keywords:

• international trade
• exports
• aggregation
• products
• Russia

JEL Classification:

• F14
• L60

Acknowledgements

Cassey acknowledges partial support for this work by the Agricultural Research Center Project #0540 at Washington State University.