بهره وری شرکت در صنایع ساخت بنگلادش

This paper studies the correlates of firm total factor productivity (TFP) in Bangladesh using data from a recent survey of large manufacturing firms. TFP measures are obtained following [Ackerberg, D., Caves, K., & Frazer, G. (2007). Structural identification of production functions. UCLA mimeo] and using firm-specific deflators for output and inputs. Controlling for industry, location, and year fixed effects, we find that firm size and TFP are negatively correlated while firm age and TFP exhibit an inverse U-shaped relationship. We also find that managerial quality and global integration are positively associated with firm TFP. Finally, we find that power supply problems, heavy bureaucracy, and the presence of crime dampen firm TFP.

A major stylized fact uncovered by the empirical industry evolution literature in developed as well as developing countries is the enormous degree of heterogeneity in productivity across firms even within narrowly defined manufacturing industries (Bartelsman and Doms, 2000 and Tybout, 2000). It has also been shown that long-term growth and development across countries is driven to a large extent by productivity growth (Easterly & Levine, 2001). From a policy perspective, it is therefore crucial to understand which factors underlie the heterogeneity in firm productivity.

This paper uses data from a recent survey of manufacturing firms in Bangladesh to obtain consistent firm-level time-varying TFP measures for the period 1999–2003 following Ackerberg et al. (2007) and empirically examine the correlates of TFP. Our results suggest several important correlates of firm TFP, controlling for industry, location, and year fixed effects. Smaller firms are significantly more productive than firms in the largest size category. Firm age and TFP exhibit an inverse U-shaped relationship. Firms with more educated or experienced managers and firms with foreign ownership are more productive. Exporters have significantly higher TFP than firms selling in the domestic market only. Firms with quality certifications have higher TFP. However, firms engaged in R&D activities and firms using more computerized machinery do not. While firms with an overdraft facility have higher TFP, firms with access to a bank loan have lower TFP. Power supply problems have a negative effect on firm TFP. The presence of crime in industries and locations hurts significantly firm TFP.