Innovation, productivity and learning induced by export across European manufacturing firms

This paper analyses the links between R&D, innovation, productivity and exports for European manufacturing firms between 2001 and 2014. In comparison with previous studies, we consider the temporal and spatial dimension of learning-by-exporting. By applying a Heckman equation and GSEM methodology, we find a robust self-selection process from productivity to export and export-induced learning effects in terms of length of time and number of markets. Our results show that firms in leader countries are more sensitive to temporal learning, while spatial learning has more influence for firms in less advanced countries. Our results indicate that the export learning has a different impact depending on the innovation position of each country