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Can Small Firms Find and Defend Strategic Niches? A Test of the Porter Hypothesis

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  • Bradburd, Ralph M
  • Ross, David R

Abstract

A number of studies have found a positive relation between market share and profitability. Michael Porter argues that this need not hold when small firms find strategic niches protected by mobility barriers. This paper examines that hypothesis by comparing the profitability of large and small lines of business when the activities of the two groups (proxied by the allocation of sales across submarkets) differ on average. The authors find that, in heterogeneous product mix industries, profits of large lines of business are no longer significantly greater than profits of smaller rivals, except that market leaders maintain their advantage regardless of product mix. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.

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  • Bradburd, Ralph M & Ross, David R, 1989. "Can Small Firms Find and Defend Strategic Niches? A Test of the Porter Hypothesis," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 71(2), pages 258-262, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:71:y:1989:i:2:p:258-62
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    1. ., 2013. "Market niches, competition and economic performance: more clues from ecology?," Chapters, in: Competition, Diversity and Economic Performance, chapter 8, pages 160-182, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Longzhou Wang, 2023. "The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Firms’ Product Quality: Evidence from Chinese Exporters," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 86(3), pages 645-672, November.
    3. Tuan, Chyau & Ng, Linda F. Y., 2001. "Regional division of labor from agglomeration economies' perspective: some evidence," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 65-85.
    4. Marc Cowling & Simon Peter Nadeem, 2020. "Entrepreneurial Firms: With Whom Do They Compete, and Where?," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 57(3), pages 559-577, November.
    5. Maghyereh, Aktham & Abdoh, Hussein, 2020. "Asymmetric effects of oil price uncertainty on corporate investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    6. FUKUGAWA Nobuya, 2023. "Determinants of Commercialization Modes of Science: Evidence from panel data of university technology transfer in Japan," Discussion papers 23053, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. Nguyen, Sang V & Streitwieser, Mary L, 1999. "Factor Substitution in U.S. Manufacturing: Does Plant Size Matter?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 41-57, February.
    8. James V. Koch & Richard J. Cebula, 1994. "In Search Of Excellent Management," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 681-699, September.
    9. Phan, Dinh Hoang Bach & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Narayan, Paresh Kumar, 2015. "Oil price and stock returns of consumers and producers of crude oil," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 245-262.
    10. Audretsch, David B. & van Leeuwen, George & Menkveld, Bert & Thurik, Roy, 2001. "Market dynamics in the Netherlands: Competition policy and the role of small firms," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 19(5), pages 795-821, April.
    11. Sadorsky, Perry, 2008. "Assessing the impact of oil prices on firms of different sizes: Its tough being in the middle," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 3854-3861, October.
    12. Henriques, Irene & Sadorsky, Perry, 2010. "Can environmental sustainability be used to manage energy price risk?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 1131-1138, September.
    13. Tisdell, Clem & Seidl, Irmi, 2004. "Niches and economic competition: implications for economic efficiency, growth and diversity," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 119-135, June.
    14. Sadorsky, Perry, 2012. "Modeling renewable energy company risk," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 39-48.
    15. Damien Dussaux, 2020. "The joint effects of energy prices and carbon taxes on environmental and economic performance: Evidence from the French manufacturing sector," OECD Environment Working Papers 154, OECD Publishing.

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