The Internet and SME Participation in Exports

This paper analyzes the effect of the development of the Internet on the share of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in total exports. We extend the Helpman, Melitz and Yeaple (2004) model to include the opportunity for firms to pay lower fixed export costs by exporting indirectly via well-established e-commerce platforms. SMEs self-select into the indirect exporting mode. In response to the development of the Internet, fixed costs of indirect exporting fall at a higher rate than fixed costs of direct exporting. Consequently, SMEs tend to account for a larger share in total exports as the Internet develops. Using two samples from the Exporter Dynamics Database, we find supporting evidence that the development of the Internet in the exporting country has a significant and negative effect on the share of exports by the top 5% or 25% of exporters, implying a larger share of SMEs. Moreover, we find that improved submarine cable infrastructure in the exporting country also leads to a lower share of exports by large exporters. These are in contrast to the estimated positive effect of telephone development in the exporting country, which may not disproportionately benefit indirect exporting via e-commerce platforms over direct exporting. Finally, we find an imperfect substitution relationship between e-commerce platforms and traditional intermediaries.