Exploring the duration of exports: evidence from Cote d'Ivore

This paper investigates the effect of urbanization on export duration in Cote d’Ivoire using HS 6-digit level bilateral export data between Cote d’Ivoire and 155 countries from 1996 to 2018. We found that the mean and median duration of exporting in Cote d’Ivoire are 1.8 years and 1 year, respectively. Using a discrete-time logit model with random effects, we established that urbanization in the importing country reduces survival of Ivorian exports, specifically, in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in low- and middle-income countries. Urbanization in Europe and Central Asia and in high-income countries improves survival of Ivorian exports, while the internal urbanization index has not contributed to maintain export duration.