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Financial structure and Southern Italy firms’ growth

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  • Domenico Sarno

Abstract

This paper shows that the growth of firms in the Southern Italian (Mezzogiorno) regions is financed mostly by internal sources, since external financing is more problematic and costly. Hence firm growth is subject to financial constraints. The “financial growth cycle” these are used to analyse the features of the capital structure of the Mezzogiorno’s SMEs compared to Italy-wide SMEs. Then, within the framework proposed by financial constraints literature, the capital structure related to the growth is analysed. In order to estimate the growth-cash flow relationship the empirical Gibrat growth model enriched with the cash flow variable is used.

Suggested Citation

  • Domenico Sarno, 2007. "Financial structure and Southern Italy firms’ growth," QA - Rivista dell'Associazione Rossi-Doria, Associazione Rossi Doria, issue 2, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:rar:journl:0054
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Constraints; Firm Growth; Capital Structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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