We examine the role of road infrastructure in determining the impact of a reduction in input tariffs on firm productivity. We combine new geo-spatial data on road improvements in Ethiopia with establishment level data on manufacturing firms that allow us to estimate physical productivity. Results show that an input tariff reduction is associated with a larger increase in firm productivity in areas where better roads improve access to other intranational markets. Roads magnify pass-through of tariff reductions to imported input prices and also incentivize firms to exploit this cost advantage to enhance productivity. Road infrastructure hence complements trade liberalization.

我们研究了道路基础设施在确定降低投入关税对企业生产力的影响方面的作用。我们将埃塞俄比亚道路改善的新地理空间数据与制造企业的基层数据结合起来，使我们能够估算物理生产力。结果表明，在改善道路改善进入其他国内市场的地区的地区，降低投入品关税与企业生产力的更大提高有关。道路扩大了关税削减对进口投入价格的传导作用，也激励企业利用这种成本优势来提高生产力。因此，道路基础设施补充了贸易自由化。