Abstract

In this work, we explore the impact of exporting to highly-developed destinations (the Nordic area) on the product innovative firm performance from a wide open and export-oriented country, Chile. In doing so, we carry out a longitudinal analysis (2006-2017) addressed to Chilean firms belonging to a sector in which Chilean firms are top exporting ones worldwide: the fruit one. From all 177 firms considered, 54 firms exported to Nordic countries in the period considered. To test our suggested hypothesis, we use the export product innovation index and a Tobit regression model. The results of the analysis confirm our hypothesis: exporting to advanced countries favour the firm product innovation. This finding underlines the importance of the market destination effect on the firm export product innovation performance, and consequently on the firm's international competitiveness.