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Trade credit and determinants of profitability in Europe. The case of the agri-food industry

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  • Grau, Alfredo Juan
  • Reig, Araceli

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyse the effect that trade credit has on the determinants of profitability during the crisis period in Europe. We use panel data for a total of 24,177 European agri-food companies from 2010 to 2014. Among our main contributions, we highlight that we isolate the sector effect and study the country effect by separating the different policies and customs with respect to the granting of trade credit. The results confirm, in general, that trade credit affects profitability depending on the country and the characteristics of size, specificity, market power or reputation.

Suggested Citation

  • Grau, Alfredo Juan & Reig, Araceli, 2018. "Trade credit and determinants of profitability in Europe. The case of the agri-food industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 947-957.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:27:y:2018:i:5:p:947-957
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.02.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jantadej, Kulaya & Kotcharin, Suntichai, 2025. "Navigating liquidity in turbulent waters: The impact of global supply chain pressures on maritime working capital management strategies," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    3. Lin Gan & Takahashi Yoshifumi & Nomura Hisako & Yabe Mitsuyasu, 2024. "The short‐ and long‐term impacts of overinvestments on the profitability of agri‐food processing firms in China," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(1), pages 227-247, January.
    4. Inmaculada Aguiar-Díaz & Ewelina Mruk & María Victoria Ruiz-Mallorquí, 2024. "How judicial efficiency impacts trade credit and doubtful receivables," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 63-91, April.
    5. Yehui Tong & Ramon Saladrigues, 2022. "An analysis of factors affecting the profits of new firms in Spain: Evidence from the food industry," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(1), pages 28-38.
    6. Alfredo Grau & Araceli Reig, 2021. "Operating leverage and profitability of SMEs: agri-food industry in Europe," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 221-242, June.
    7. Grzegorz Zimon & Robert Dankiewicz, 2020. "Trade Credit Management Strategies in SMEs and the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Case of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Duong Phuong Thao Pham & Thi Cam Ha Huynh, 2020. "The Impact of Trade Credit Investment on Manufacturing Firms' Profitability: Evidence from Vietnam," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 68(4), pages 775-796.
    9. Zsuzsanna Bacsi & Lóránt Dénes Dávid & Zsolt Hollósy, 2022. "Industry Differences in Productivity—In Agriculture and Tourism by Lake Balaton, Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Bahadir Karakoç, 2023. "Working Capital Management and Performance in Financially Dependent Firms: Evidence from Developing Asian Economies," European Journal of Business Science and Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 37-55.

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    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • P34 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Finance

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