This paper estimates the effects of offshoring on productivity in U.S. manufacturing industries between 1992 and 2000 … has a significant positive effect on productivity in the US, accounting for around 11 percent of productivity growth … during this period. Offshoring material inputs also has a positive effect on productivity, but the magnitude is smaller …

This paper estimates the effects of trade liberalization on plant productivity. In contrast to previous studies, we … distinguish between productivity gains arising from lower tariffs on final goods relative to lower tariffs on intermediate inputs …. Lower output tariffs can produce productivity gains by inducing tougher import competition whereas cheaper imported inputs …