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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2010‒06‒18
seven papers chosen by Joao Carlos Correia Leitao University of Beira Interior and Technical University of Lisbon |
| By: | Erol Taymaz (Middle East Technical University); Ebru Voyvoda (Middle East Technical University); Kamil Yilmaz (Koc University) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines direct and indirect contributions of foreign firms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to aggregate productivity growth. We focus our attention on foreign firms and small firms for three reasons. First, industrial policy in almost all countries is oriented towards supporting SMEs and attracting foreign investment. Second, these two categories of firms contribute to micro-heterogeneity in all industries. Third, the recent industrial dynamics literature on foreign investment and small firms emphasizes the potential benefits of foreign firms and SMEs in generating new technologies, and creating new jobs. Using the data for Turkish manufacturing plants, we estimate production functions for all ISIC 4-digit level industries for the 1983-2001 period. We decompose productivity growth into its components (structural change, entry and exit, technical change, efficiency change, and scale effects) by firm ownership and size. The decomposition analysis by firm ownership and size allows us to understand the sources of productivity contributions by foreign firms and small firms. |
| Keywords: | Productivity dynamics, decomposition, foreign direct investment, small and medium sized enterprises |
| JEL: | D24 L25 L60 |
| Date: | 2010–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:koc:wpaper:1020&r=sbm |
| By: | Olivier Witmeur; Alain Fayolle |
| Abstract: | Starting from main concerns and gaps identified in literature on growth strategies, the research, based on Miller’s seminal work on strategic configurations, elaborates and tests a typology of strategic configurations for young entrepreneurial IT services firms. The approach is longitudinal, qualitative and exploratory by nature. The proposed configuration typology is derived from the academic and professional literature in entrepreneurship. It is then compared with multiple and triangulated data collected in four Belgian firms, according to a rigorous data collection and analysis process. A matching exercise between the typology and the cases assesses the theoretical relevance of each configurational framework in order to explain the diversity of growth strategies and the way they evolve over time. The results open new perspectives and avenues for future research, including further work on the complementarities between the configurational and process approach. |
| Date: | 2010–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/57626&r=sbm |
| By: | Corinne Autant-Bernard (Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, France; CNRS, GATE Lyon St Etienne, UMR 5824, 93, chemin des Mouilles, Ecully, F-69130, France; Université de Saint-Etienne, Jean Monnet, F-42023 Saint Etienne, France); Muriel Fadairo (Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, France; CNRS, GATE Lyon St Etienne, UMR 5824, 93, chemin des Mouilles, Ecully, F-69130, France; Université de Saint-Etienne, Jean Monnet, F-42023 Saint Etienne, France); Nadine Massard (Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, France; CNRS, GATE Lyon St Etienne, UMR 5824, 93, chemin des Mouilles, Ecully, F-69130, France; Université de Saint-Etienne, Jean Monnet, F-42023 Saint Etienne, France) |
| Abstract: | This article builds upon empirical results concerning localised knowledge spillovers to highlight some policy implications within European regions. The analysis emphasises the role of regional innovation policies in supporting the institutions that generate knowledge and learning. However, the variety of regional features presented in the empirical literature suggests that the search for universal policy tools is unrealistic. From this perspective, we argue that original strategies must be generated to cope with the various dilemmas faced by regional innovation policies. Such specific strategies require accurate knowledge of local features. Improving data and indicators to diagnose and monitor regional innovation is therefore presented as a key issue for policy makers. |
| Keywords: | innovation policy, localised knowledge flows, European regions, knowledge-based economy |
| JEL: | O38 C12 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gat:wpaper:1010&r=sbm |
| By: | Francesco Bogliacino; Giulio Perani; Mario Pianta; Stefano Supino |
| Abstract: | In this article we investigate the existing evidence on innovation produced by innovation surveys in developing and emerging countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. We review the relevant literature, discuss methodological issues, and analyse the results for the countries with the most comparable surveys, considering the well established findings of innovation surveys for Europe as a benchmark. From the evidence we considered, regional patterns are identified and some stylized facts on innovation and development are proposed, pointing out the specificity of innovation processes in economies engaged in industrialisation and catching-up. |
| Keywords: | Innovation Surveys, Patterns of Innovation, Emerging Countries. |
| JEL: | O14 O19 O3 O54 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2010-13&r=sbm |
| By: | Pierre-Alexandre Balland; Raphael Suire; Jerome Vicente |
| Abstract: | This paper contributes to the empirical identification of geographical and structural properties of innovative networks, focusing on the particular case of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) at the European level. We show that knowledge bases of organizations and knowledge phases of the innovation process are the critical factors in determining the nature of the interplay between structural and geographical features of knowledge networks. Developing a database of R&D collaborative projects of the 5th and 6th European Framework Programs, we propose a methodology based on social network analysis. Its originality consists in starting from a bimodal network, in order to deduce two affiliation matrixes that allow us to study both the properties of the organization network and the properties of the project network. The results are discussed in the light of the mutual influence of the cognitive, structural and geographical dimensions on knowledge production and diffusion, and in the light of the knowledge drivers that give rise to the coexistence of a relational core-periphery structure with a geographical cluster and pipeline structure. |
| Keywords: | Economic Geography, Knowledge networks, Social network analysis, EU Framework Programs, GNSS |
| JEL: | O32 R12 |
| Date: | 2010–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egu:wpaper:1008&r=sbm |
| By: | Almeida, Rita K. (World Bank); Aterido, Reyes (World Bank) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the link between firm size and the investment in job training by employers. Using a large firm level data set across 99 developing countries, we show that a strong and positive correlation in the investment in job training and firm size is a robust statistical finding both within and across countries with very different institutions and level of development. However, our findings do not support the view that this difference is mostly driven by market imperfections disproportionally affecting SMEs. Rather, our evidence is supportive of SMEs having a smaller expected return from the investment in job training than larger firms. Therefore, our findings call for caution when designing pro-SME policies fostering the investment in on the job training. |
| Keywords: | on-the-job training, firm size, firm level data, developing countries |
| JEL: | J24 D24 |
| Date: | 2010–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4981&r=sbm |
| By: | Erik Monsen (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Germany); Prashanth Mahagaonkar (University of Wuppertal, Germany); Christian Dienes (University of Wuppertal, Germany) |
| Abstract: | Occupational transition from salaried to self-employment is an important issue in developed economies, but is even more critical in emerging economies, as individuals' occupational choices can drive economic development. Using data on 3637 individuals from India, we examine the effect of regional factors on actual and intended transition. We find that self-employment and unemployment rates decrease actual and intended transition, and the effects are at least four times greater than that of individual-level factors. In addition, we find that urban versus rural location moderates the effects of income ratios and state GDP, with the effects being greater in rural locations. |
| Keywords: | Occupational Transition, Self-Employment, Emerging Economies |
| JEL: | J24 J62 L26 O12 O18 O53 |
| Date: | 2010–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bwu:schdps:sdp10007&r=sbm |