Intensidad exportadora y percepción de barreras a la exportación: Un estudio de casos

Using case study methodology, we analyze the export experience of 11 SMEs from Asturias and Alicante. The aim of the paper is to prove whether the perception of export barriers differs between those SMEs highly committed to exporting (or successful in foreign markets) and those others whose revenues come primarily from the Spanish market. We observe that there exists a positive link between export intensity and the perception of barriers to exports. Moreover, the importance that SMEs give to foreign sales' control (and also their proactive or reactive attitude towards exporting) may also help in explaining these different perceptions.