Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of one of the public policy instruments for export promotion, the Export Marketing Assistance (EMA), on the firm’s export performance. EMA instruments have been present in Chile since 1974, and are used internationally in both developed and developing countries. A metaanalytic review of the literature resulting from EMA empirical research in the international marketing area is undertaken. The study takes place in a specific region of Chile, La Araucanía, measuring a group of 73 exporting firms, mainly SMEs in the forestry and agricultural sectors. The data from the study cover the period 2002-2005. DID Matching is used. The results show that the utilization of the EMA instruments in general, has had a positive impact on the amount of exports from regional firms. However, most of the results are not statistically significant. The results show a statistically significant and positive relation between the internationalization stage and export performance.