The report examines the exportperformance of Mexican enterprises in the 1990s, todetermine whether the intended effects of tradeliberalization, have indeed occurred. The depth, and extentof changes in outward orientation of firms are explored, aswell as the characteristics of firms that became moreexport-oriented. Further analysis focus on the degree oflinkage between the export sector, and domestic economy, orconversely, the extent to which the export sector is an"enclave", whose behavior is independent from therest of the economy. The factors that determine exportbehavior, and the extent to which exporting is"permanent" vs. "transitory" arereviewed, together with the extent to which productivitygains from exporting have been realized, whether throughlearning by direct exporters, or through spillovers toindirect exporters, and others. The report relies onstatistical analysis of cross-section/time-series databases,with observations at the level of the individual plant, orfirm, which led to the annual industrial survey (1993-98),the monthly census of plants under the "maquila"regime (1990-98), and, the Central Bank customs database ofexport/import at the firm level (1991-98). Conclusionssuggest that while exporters have higher productivity rates,profitability is equal compared to non-exporters, butinventory turnover tends to be higher for non-exporters,possibly explained by higher re-stocking costs for exporters.
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