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The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 83 No. 2 2001

Competing at Home to Win Abroad: Evidence from Japanese Industry

Mariko Sakakibara1; Michael E. Porter2

1 University of California, Los Angeles · 2 Harvard Business School

Abstract

The study explores the influence of domestic competition on international trade performance, using data from a broad sample of Japanese industries. Domestic rivalry is measured directly using market-share instability rather than employing structural variables such as seller concentration. We find robust evidence that domestic rivalry has a positive and significant relationship with trade performance measured by world export share, particularly when R&D intensity reveals opportunities for dynamic improvement and innovation. Conversely, trade protection reduces export performance. These findings support the view that local competition—not monopoly, collusion, or a sheltered home market— pressures dynamic improvement that leads to international competitiveness.

DOI
10.1162/00346530151143842
Volume
83
Issue
2
Pages
310-322
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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