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Ways Out of the Empirical Mittelstand Research Dilemma

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Berlemann
  • Vera Jahn
  • Robert Lehmann

Abstract

According to unanimous opinion, German Mittelstand companies are primarily characterised by the fact that their ownership and management are in one hand. However, in empirical research on the Mittelstand and in almost all reports dealing with their actual size and importance, they are equated with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The reason for this is that Mittelstand firms cannot be adequately defined on the basis of official data. As a result, almost all empirical research on the Mittelstand is effectively research on small and medium-sized enterprises. In order to avoid this dilemma, three special questions have been integrated into the ifo Business Survey, which allow the proper identification of Mittelstand companies. The results show that, as expected, the Mittelstand ratio is very much overstated by the SME ratio. With these special questions, ifo's data now offer the opportunity to provide fresh impetus for empirical research on the Mittelstand to overcome the dilemma described above.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Berlemann & Vera Jahn & Robert Lehmann, 2018. "Ways Out of the Empirical Mittelstand Research Dilemma," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 71(23), pages 22-28, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:71:y:2018:i:23:p:22-28
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Pahnke, André & Holz, Michael & Welter, Friederike, 2019. "Unternehmerische Zielsysteme: Unterscheiden sich mittelständische Unternehmen tatsächlich von anderen?," IfM-Materialien 276, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    2. de Groote, Julia & Soluk, Jonas & Laue, Sarah-Larissa & Heck, Marius & Kammerlander, Nadine, 2023. "How can family-owned Mittelstand firms use their unique resources to master the digitalization age? The role of family historical, venture, and collaborative capital," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 133-152.
    3. André Pahnke & Friederike Welter & David B. Audretsch, 2023. "In the eye of the beholder? Differentiating between SMEs and Mittelstand," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 729-743, February.
    4. Schlömer-Laufen Nadine & Schneck Stefan, 2020. "Data for Mittelstand Companies in Germany at the IfM Bonn," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 240(6), pages 849-859, December.
    5. Robert Lehmann, 2023. "The Forecasting Power of the ifo Business Survey," Journal of Business Cycle Research, Springer;Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys (CIRET), vol. 19(1), pages 43-94, March.
    6. Michael Berlemann & Vera Jahn & Robert Lehmann, 2019. "Wie ist der Mittelstand in Deutschland verteilt? Eine Analyse mit Befragungsdaten," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 26(01), pages 23-28, February.
    7. Pahnke, André & Welter, Friederike & Audretsch, David B., 2021. "Im Auge des Betrachters? Warum wir zwischen KMU und Mittelstand unterscheiden müssen," Working Papers 04/21, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    8. Michael Berlemann & Vera Jahn & Robert Lehmann, 2022. "Is the German Mittelstand more resistant to crises?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1169-1195, October.

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    JEL classification:

    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General

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