UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series
Management standard certification and firm productivity: micro-evidence from Africa
Micheline Goedhuys & Pierre Mohnen #2016-012Using micro evidence from manufacturing and services firms located in 55
African countries, this paper shows that better management practice,
reflected by international management certification, helps firms to
raise productivity. Larger and older firms and firms operating closer to
the technological frontier are more likely to possess international
management standards certification, as do firms engaged in international
transactions. Certification in turn raises productivity levels further,
in line with a process of continuous improvement. The findings hold for
both manufacturing and services firms.
JEL Classification: D02, D24, L15, O33, O55
Keywords: standards, productivity, Africa, manufacturing, services
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