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Research on E-Commerce Exports: Microdata Linking Analysis

Cross border e-commerce has dramatically expanded in recent years. Rapid innovations in IT and communications allowed for entirely new business models based on e-commerce. Despite its growing importance, little is known about its nature and the scale due to the lack of specific data.

This study commissioned by the UK Government's Department for International Trade  provides important insights on this growing area of international trade, helping policymakers in shaping the future of UK trade policy and maximising this new opportunity.

Cambridge Econometrics applied an innovative method of microdata linking to create a new dataset with which to analyse e‑commerce trade. Use of microdata-linking allowed us to create a new dataset that can provide unique insights on E-commerce exporting activity of UK firms that otherwise would not have been possible if using the datasets individually.

E-commerce exports study
Research on E-commerce exports: Microdata Linking Analysis

Cambridge Econometrics 

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Key Findings

The study provides insights on the characteristics of firms engaging in cross-border e-commerce exports, as well as insights on their service export activities. 
1
Between 2010 and 2018, the share of firms receiving e-commerce orders from abroad via a website or an app increased slightly, from 14.5% to 16.4%.
3
Large firms (with employment of 250 or more) are 50% more likely to export using a website or an app, compared to small firms (with employment less than 50).
5
Among firms exporting using a website or an app, the largest services exports categories include computer services, charges or payments for the use of copyrighted work, postal services, and other business and professional services.
2
In 2019, e-commerce sales to customers located abroad accounted for 3.8% of the turnover of UK firms, of which 2.5% were website or an app sale, and 1.3% were EDI sales.
4
The most important destinations for services exported by UK firms engaging in website or app exports are the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France and Ireland.

Get in Touch

SP

Shyamoli Patel

Head of Economic & Social Policy Division

t: +44 1223 533145

e:sp@camecon.com

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