Competitive strategies, heterogeneous demand sources and firms’ growth trajectories

Arbeitspapier

The present paper explores the demand-pull effect of distinct demand sources (i.e. households and retailers, other firms and public sector) on Italian companies’ growth patterns. Data relies on the PEC (Indagine sulle Professioni e le Competenze) survey carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP), which provides a rich set of information on a representative sample of Italian companies (~32.000) observed during the years 2012, 2014 and 2017. In particular, we investigate if and to what extent firm-level growth profiles are linked to the prevalent source of the demand flows that such firms face. The analysis contextually accounts for the role played by technological and knowledge-related heterogeneities in shaping the growth pattern-demand type relationship. The empirical analysis shows that the demand-pull effect on firms’ growth is heterogeneous across different types of demand sources and that the ability to seize the growth-related chances provided by distinct demand conditions is contingent on firms’ specific knowledge profiles.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GLO Discussion Paper ; No. 442

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Business Objectives of the Firm ; Firm Organization and Market Structure ; Firm Performance: Size, Diversification, and Scope
• Subject: firms ; growth ; demand-pull ; innovation

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Caravella, Serenella ; Crespi, Francesco ; Guarascio, Dario ; Tubiana, Matteo
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Global Labor Organization (GLO)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/210456
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:46 AM CET