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Do firms’ growth rates depend on firm size?

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  • Jan Bentzen
  • Erik Madsen
  • Valdemar Smith

Abstract

The empirical literature dealing with corporate growth does not in general give support to Gibrat’s Law stating that the expected increase in firm size is proportionate to its initial size, leaving their growth rates independent of size. Using a relatively large and representative sample of approximately 2,500 Danish firms representing all industries, we have evaluated the validity of Gibrat’s Law over the period 1990–2004. The present analysis addresses this question by applying econometric methods to test Gibrat’s Law and correcting for problems related to autocorrelation. The empirical findings of our study do not generally support Gibrat’s Law, but in contrast to the results of earlier studies, the analysis reveals that firms’ growth rates are more likely to be positively related to firm size. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Bentzen & Erik Madsen & Valdemar Smith, 2012. "Do firms’ growth rates depend on firm size?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 937-947, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:39:y:2012:i:4:p:937-947
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-011-9341-8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gibrat’s Law; Firm size and growth; Panel data; Non-linear regressions; C23; D22; L11; L26;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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