Since the emergence of the heterogeneous firm trade theory pioneered by Melitz, which emphasizes the performance advantages of exporting firms, scholars have increasingly utilized firm-level microdata to investigate the drivers and consequences of international trade. This line of research has given rise to two central hypotheses: learning-by-exporting and self-selection. This paper synthesizes theoretical and empirical studies on these hypotheses, examining their research progress and trends within the framework of firm heterogeneity. By reviewing the evolution of trade theories, consolidating empirical methodologies and findings on learning-by-exporting and self-selection, and analyzing the determinants of learning-by-exporting, we identify key gaps in the literature and outline future research directions. To date, the self-selection hypothesis has garnered broad empirical support, whereas the existence of learning-by-exporting effects remains inconclusive. This study contributes a comprehensive literature review on the trade behavior of heterogeneous firms.

Lei He, Xiaoyu Zhen. Research Progress and Trends in Learning-by-Exporting and Self-Selection Hypotheses of Heterogeneous Firms. Academic Journal of Business & Management (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 4: 165-172. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJBM.2025.070420.

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