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What drives firm profitability? A comparison of the US and EU food processing industry

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  • Adelina Gschwandtner
  • Stefan Hirsch

Abstract

This article analyzes persistence and the drivers of profitability in US and EU food processing using GMM estimations. Due to different firm size structures first comparable samples of US and EU food processors are derived using Propensity Score Matching. The GMM results indicate that profit persistence in food processing is lower than in other manufacturing sectors. Firm-specific drivers of profitability are size, growth and financial risk. Regarding industry characteristics the growth rate significantly influences profitability. The findings provide insights for the management of food processing firms as well as for policy decisions aiming to counter power imbalances in the food sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Adelina Gschwandtner & Stefan Hirsch, 2016. "What drives firm profitability? A comparison of the US and EU food processing industry," Studies in Economics 1612, School of Economics, University of Kent.
  • Handle: RePEc:ukc:ukcedp:1612
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    2. Leiv Opstad & Johannes Idsø & Robin Valenta, 2022. "The Dynamics of the Profitability and Growth of Restaurants; The Case of Norway," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, February.
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    6. Leiv Opstad & Johannes Idso & Robin Valenta, 2021. "The Degree of Profit Persistence in the Tourism Industry: The Case of Norwegian Campsites," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 140-155.
    7. Adrián Rabadán & Ángela González-Moreno & Francisco J. Sáez-Martínez, 2019. "Improving Firms’ Performance and Sustainability: The Case of Eco-Innovation in the Agri-Food Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Silvia Andr?s Gonz?lez-Moralejo & Mildrey Garc?a Cort?s & Juan Francisco L?pez Miquel, 2021. "Are small and medium-size food industry firms profitable? Explaining differences in their performance: The case of the Valencia Region," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 23(1), pages 1-24.
    9. Andrés González-Moralejo, Silvia & García Cortés, Mildrey & López Miquel, Juan Francisco, 2021. "Are small and medium-size food industry firms profitable? Explaining differences in their performance: The case of the Valencia Region," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 23(1), May.
    10. Carlos J. O. Trejo-Pech & Karen L. DeLong & Dayton M. Lambert & Vasileios Siokos, 2020. "The impact of US sugar prices on the financial performance of US sugar-using firms," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm profit; persistence; food industry; GMM panel estimation; propensity score matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L66 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Food; Beverages; Cosmetics; Tobacco
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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