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Are Differences in Firm Size Transitory or Permanent?

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Author Info
Geroski, Paul A
Samiei, Hossein
Urga, Giovanni

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Abstract

Cross-section or short-panel econometric techniques typically used to examine Gibrat’s Law of Proportionate Effect suggest that some degree of mean reversion exists, but may exaggerate the apparent randomness of corporate growth. We argue that a more natural way to explore the long-run distribution of firm sizes is to examine data on the growth of particular firms over long periods of time. Using a sample of 77 UK firms’ real total net assets data observed continually for more than 30 years, our conclusions are that growth rates are highly variable over time, but differences in growth rates between firms do not persist for very long. Further, firms show no tendency to converge to either a common size or to a pattern of stable size differences over time. These results are compared and contrasted with standard approaches using the same data, which suggest firms reach and maintain stable positions in a skewed size distribution.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 1691.

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Date of creation: Oct 1997
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:1691

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Keywords: Cointegration Convergence Gibrat's Law Panel Data

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models
C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data
L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Rabah Amir & Filomena Garcia & Malgorzata Knauff, 2006. "Endogenous Heterogeneity in Strategic Models: Symmetry-breaking via Strategic Substitutes and Nonconcavities," Working Papers 2006/29, Department of Economics at the School of Economics and Management (ISEG), Technical University of Lisbon.. [Downloadable!]
  2. G. Urga & P. A. Geroski & S. Lazarova & C. F. Walters, 2003. "Are differences in firm size transitory or permanent?," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(1), pages 47-59. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Matteo Richiardi, 2003. "Generalizing Gibrat. Reasonable Multiplicative Models of Firm Dynamics," Industrial Organization 0304004, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
  4. Elena Cefis & Matteo Ciccarelli & Luigi Orsenigo, 2004. "Testing Gibrat's Legacy: A Bayesian Approach to Study the Growth of Firms," Working Papers 05-02, Utrecht School of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  5. Giulio Bottazzi & Giovanni Dosi & Marco Lippi & Fabio Pammolli & Massimo Riccaboni, 2001. "Innovation and Corporate Growth in the Evolution of the Drug Industry," LEM Papers Series 2001/02, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  6. Marco Corsino, 2008. "Product Innovation and Growth: The Case of Integrated Circuits," LEM Papers Series 2008/02, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy. [Downloadable!]
  7. Renata Kosova & Francine Lafontaine, 2006. "Firm Survival and Growth in Retail and Service Industries: Evidence from Franchised Chains," Working Papers 0007, School of Business, The George Washington University. [Downloadable!]
  8. Roy Thurik & Enrico Santarelli & David Audretsch & Luuk Klomp, 2002. "Gibrat's Law: Are the Services Different?," Scales Research Reports H200201, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
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  9. Geroski, Paul A & Gugler, Klaus Peter, 2001. "Corporate Growth Convergence in Europe," CEPR Discussion Papers 2838, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  10. Elena Cefis & Matteo Ciccarelli & Luigi Orsenigo, 2002. "From Gibrat’s legacy to Gibrat’s fallacy. A Bayesian approach to study the growth of firms," Working Papers 0206, University of Bergamo, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  11. Michael Böheim & Michael Pfaffermayr & Klaus Gugler, 2000. "Do Growth Rates Differ in European Manufacturing Industries?," Austrian Economic Quarterly, WIFO, vol. 5(2), pages 93-104, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  15. Blandina Oliveira & Adelino Fortunato, 2006. "Testing Gibrat’s Law: Empirical Evidence from a Panel of Portuguese Manufacturing Firms," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 65-81, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Emiliano Santoro, 2006. "Macroeconomic fluctuations and the firms' rate of growth distribution: evidence from UK and US quoted companies," Department of Economics Working Papers 0606, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia. [Downloadable!]
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