International Trade, Learning, and Firms’ Heterogeneous Performance [Elektronische Ressource] : Theory and Evidence from Developing Economies / Uwe Cantner. Gutachter: Oliver Kirchkamp ; Richard Nelson

International Trade, Learning, and Firms’Heterogeneous Performance:Theory and Evidence from DevelopingEconomiesDissertationzur Erlangung des akademischen Gradesdoctor rerum politicarum(Dr. rer. pol.)vorgelegt dem Rat der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakult atder Friedrich-Schiller-Universit at Jenaam 29.04.2011von: Master of Management Science Fang Wanggeboren am 28.09.1979 in Dalian, ChinaGutachter:1. Prof. Dr. Uwe Cantner2. Prof. Dr. Oliver Kirchkamp3. Prof. Richard Nelson, PhDDatum der Verteidigung: 15.08.2011AcknowledgementI am heartily grateful to my supervisors { Prof. Uwe Cantner, Prof.Oliver Kirchkamp, and Prof. Richard Nelson { for their outstanding super-vision, engagement, and support. Thanks to Prof. Richard Nelson’s spon-sorship, my stay at Columbia University as a visiting scholar turns out ahighly-rewarding experience.It is my pleasure to join GK \The Economics of Innovative Change" groupwhere the good working atmosphere is acknowledged. I am indebted to StefanBauernschuster, Nadin Chla , Caterina Giannetti, Marco Guerzoni, SarahK oster, Arianna Martinelli, Ljubica Nedelkoska, Tatiana Plotnikova, BastianRake, Eric Verhoogen, Benjamin Volland, and Zhaoyuan Xu as well as allparticipants in the Jena Economic Research Workshop, Globelics Academy2009, DIME Milan 2009, and EEFS 2010 for their helpful comments anddiscussion.