Final answer:
Experienced exporters express a lack of confidence in areas of international trade, which include skills in production, technology, management, finance, and law, due to their complex and sometimes intangible nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a study that explored the confidence levels of experienced exporters in their knowledge about specific areas. The area of uncertainty that is often a challenge for even seasoned exporters relates to the complex aspects of international trade, such as skills in production, technology, management, finance, and law. Given that these areas are constantly evolving and can significantly impact the gains from trade, it is not unusual for exporters to experience a lack of confidence.
This lack of confidence may arise because the benefits of international trade, such as consumer choice and competition, are difficult to quantify accurately. Moreover, the exchange of knowledge between countries, which is crucial when firms engage in splitting up the value chain of production, is an essential but sometimes hard-to-measure advantage of global trade.
In summary, the complexity of international trade and the difficulty in measuring some of its benefits contribute to this lack of confidence among even the most experienced exporters.