Entering the Export Markets: Do Trade Missions Help?

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the impact of trade missions on export performance. Using the census of participant data of the State of Victoria trade missions during 2010-2013, we estimate the impact of trade missions at the extensive and intensive margins by employing matched difference-in differences analyses. We find, on average, the missions increased participating firms' export value by more than 170%. We also find non-exporting participants were 26 percentage points more likely to become exporters after the missions. There is evidence for diminishing returns for repeat participants and that the impact varies by the size and sector of the participants and by the destination country of the trade mission.