Using a novel dataset with transaction-level level exports from Malawi, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania, we explore the determinants of the survival of firm-product-destination combinations past the first year after entry on export markets. We find that survival correlates with diversification (or experience) at the extensive margin: a firm-productdestination combination is more likely to survive if the firm ships more * This paper is part of a World Bank research project initiated by Paul Brenton and Denisse Pierola. Financial support from the BNPP Trust Fund on Improving the Survival of African Exports is gratefully acknowledged. We are also grateful to the Malawi Revenue Authority, the Direction Générale des Douanes du Mali, the Direction Générale des Douanes du Sénégal, and the Tanzania Revenue Authority for their cooperation and willingness to share data. We also thank Frances Aidoo, William Baah-Boateng, Sidiki Guindo, Anthony Mveyange and Nelson Nsiku for their assistance in the collection of the customs data used in this paper. products to that destination, or if it ships that product to more destinations, suggesting synergies within the firm. Most strikingly, we find significant evidence of cross-firm synergies: a firm-product-destination is more likely to survive, the more firms from the same country export the same product to the same destination. These results may suggest a case for export promotion at the national level.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract