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Effects Of Human Capital On The Growth And Survival Of Swedish Businesses

Author

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  • Backman, Mikaela

    (Jönköping International Business School, & Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS))

  • Gabe, Todd

    (University of Maine)

  • Mellander, Charlotta

    (Jönköping International Business School, & Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS))

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of human capital on the growth and survival of a large sample of Swedish businesses. Human capital is represented by conventional measures of the educational attainment and experience of an establishment’s workers, and skills-based measures of the types of occupations present in the company. Controlling for an establishment’s size and age, as well as its industry and region of location, we find that the human capital embodied in a company’s workers significantly affects its performance. The specific effects, however, depend on how human capital is measured and whether the analysis focuses on growth or survival.

Suggested Citation

  • Backman, Mikaela & Gabe, Todd & Mellander, Charlotta, 2014. "Effects Of Human Capital On The Growth And Survival Of Swedish Businesses," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 354, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0354
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm growth; firm survival; human capital; education; skills;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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