摘要：We provide a novel set of stylized facts on firms engaging in international
trade in services, using unique firm-level data on services exports and imports
in the United Kingdom in 2000- 2005. Less than 10% of firms trade in services
but they can be found in all sectors of the UK economy. While the services
sector accounts for 80% of total exports and imports, the frequency and trade
intensity of services traders is often higher in sectors such as high- tech
manufacturing. Services traders are bigger, more productive and are more likely
to be foreign owned or part of a multinational enterprise. These ‘trade premia’
are smaller then for goods traders, however, with the exception of skill
intensity which is higher among services traders. There are also significant
differences between exporters and importers of services. Furthermore, we show
that most firms only export or import a single service type and trade with a
small number of countries. Trade volume, employment, turnover and value added
are highly concentrated among a small group of firms trading with many countries
and/or in many services types. These firms are characterised by bigger size and
higher than average productivity, all of which seem to be principally correlated
with more trade along the intensive margin (trade per services and country)
.although there are a number of noteworthy exceptions. Interestingly, trade is
also concentrated within .rms. The top export and import destination make up 70%
of the average firm’s total trade and the top services type around 90%. This
strong concentration is still present among firms trading with many countries
and/or in many products
