Abstract

This thesis includes three main chapters that are the outcome of different research projects. All chapters stand as independent papers, but they are linked by the common focus on firm financial factors and export behavior, and by the use of microeconometric methodologies applied to firm-level data. The first two chapters investigate, respectively, the impact of export activity on firms’ access to credit and the role of corporate financial structure as a determinant of exporters’ ability to compete on foreign markets through quality. The third chapter looks instead at the scope for promoting investment and exports of small and medium enterprises through the introduction of more favorable Corporate Taxation rates.