Firm Heterogeneity and Regional Business Cycles Differentials

Konferenzbeitrag

This study represents a first attempt to empirically analyze the role of firm heterogeneity in regional business cycle behaviour. Working with monthly Italy's firms data and estimating a random effects ordered probit model, we first document sizable asymmetries in Northern and Southern firms business cycles positively related to the intensity of the national cycle: firms located in the South are more likely to reduce production levels than firms located in the North in periods of business cycle expansion and viceversa. Then, we explore the role of sectoral mix and several firm-specific factors (firm size, export propensity, liquidity constraints, demand conditions, capacity utilization and expectations) in explaining regional disparities in business cycle fluctuations. Results suggest that North-South differences in sectoral composition do not help explain the diverging behaviour of Southern firms, while by controlling for firm heterogeneity we are able to capture large part of regional business cycles differences.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: 52nd Congress of the European Regional Science Association: "Regions in Motion - Breaking the Path", 21-25 August 2012, Bratislava, Slovakia

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Firm Behavior: Theory ; Business Fluctuations; Cycles ; General Regional Economics (includes Regional Data)
• Subject: Regional business cycle ; firm heterogeneity ; random effects ordered probit

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Basile, Roberto ; de Nardis, Sergio ; Pappalardo, Carmine
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): European Regional Science Association (ERSA)
• (where): Louvain-la-Neuve
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/120472
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET