Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0 
Author-Name: Goedhuys, Micheline
Author-Email: goedhuys@merit.unu.edu
Author-workplace-name: UNU-MERIT
Author-Name: Mohnen, Pierre
Author-Email: mohnen@merit.unu.edu
Author-workplace-name: UNU-MERIT & SBE, Maastricht University
Title: Management standard certification and firm productivity: micro-evidence from 
	 Africa
Abstract: Using 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. 
Keywords: standards, productivity, Africa, manufacturing, services
Classification-JEL: D02, D24, L15, O33, O55
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20160315
Number: 2016-012
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2016/wp2016-012.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2016012