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Small firms, growth and financial constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Agustí Segarra

    (GRIT, Universitat Rovira Virgili)

  • Mercedes Teruel

    (GRIT, Universitat Rovira Virgili)

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of different sources of finance on the growth of firms. Using panel data from Spanish manufacturing firms for the period 2000-2006, we investigate the effects of internal and external finances on firm growth. In particular, we examine three dimensions of these financial sources: a) the performance of the firms’ capital structure in accordance with firm size; b) the effects of internal and external financial sources on growth performance; c) the combined effect of equity, external debt and cash flow on firm growth. We find that low-growth firms are sensitive to cash flow and short-term bank debt, while high-growth firms are more sensitive to long-term debt. Furthermore, equity capital seems to reduce barriers to external finance. Our main conclusion is that during the start-up phase, firms are unable to increase their financial leverage and so their capital structure fails to promote correct investment strategies. However, as their equity capital increases, alternative financial mechanisms, in particular long-term debt, become available, which have a positive impact on firm growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Agustí Segarra & Mercedes Teruel, 2009. "Small firms, growth and financial constraints," Working Papers XREAP2009-11, Xarxa de Referència en Economia Aplicada (XREAP), revised Oct 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:xrp:wpaper:xreap2009-11
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    File URL: http://www.xreap.cat/RePEc/xrp/pdf/XREAP2009-11.pdf
    File Function: First version, september 2009
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    File URL: http://www.xreap.cat/RePEc/xrp/pdf/XREAP2009-11-revised.pdf
    File Function: Revised version, november 2009
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Šarlija, Nataša & Bilandžić, Ana, 2018. "Does Innovation Matter for SMEs' growth in Croatia?," 6th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship. New Business Models and Institutional Entrepreneurs: Leading Disruptive Change (Dubrovnik, 2018), in: 6th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship. New Business Models and Institutional Entrepreneurs: Leading Disrupt, pages 356-375, Governance Research and Development Centre (CIRU), Zagreb.
    2. Coad, Alex & Segarra, Agustí & Teruel, Mercedes, 2013. "Like milk or wine: Does firm performance improve with age?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 173-189.
    3. Chara Vavoura, 2022. "How Trade Dampens the Impact of Financial Frictions in the Presence of Large Firms," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Vaz, Rolando, 2021. "Firm Growth: A review of the empirical literature," Revista Galega de Economía, University of Santiago de Compostela. Faculty of Economics and Business., vol. 30(2), pages 1-20.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm growth; small firms.;

    JEL classification:

    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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