Article: Growth persistence and profile robustness of high-growth firms Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing (IJEV) 2014 Vol.6 No.4 pp.299 - 330 Abstract: This paper analyses the persistence of high business growth and the robustness of the profile characteristics of high-growth firms (HGFs). By having company information for all firms that are active in Flanders (i.e., the northern part of Belgium) for a ten-year period (i.e., from 2000 to 2009), different subsets of HGFs were identified for different time periods. Several questions arise, such as whether the firms that were qualified as an HGF in a certain period were able to maintain the high growth rates for multiple (consecutive) periods and whether the profile characteristics of the HGF-subsets are stable over time. It appeared that the majority of the firms that were identified as an HGF in the period 2000-2009 were 'one-shot HGFs'. Notwithstanding the rapidly changing composition of the subsets, the profile features of the HGFs in the subset remained relatively constant over time. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Growth persistence and profile robustness of high-growth firms

Authors: Yannick Dillen; Eddy Laveren; Rudy Martens; Sven De Vocht; Eric Van Imschoot

Addresses: Department Management, Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp, Markgravestraat 12, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium ' Department Management, Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium ' Department Management, Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium ' Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp, Markgravestraat 12, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium ' Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp, Markgravestraat 12, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract: This paper analyses the persistence of high business growth and the robustness of the profile characteristics of high-growth firms (HGFs). By having company information for all firms that are active in Flanders (i.e., the northern part of Belgium) for a ten-year period (i.e., from 2000 to 2009), different subsets of HGFs were identified for different time periods. Several questions arise, such as whether the firms that were qualified as an HGF in a certain period were able to maintain the high growth rates for multiple (consecutive) periods and whether the profile characteristics of the HGF-subsets are stable over time. It appeared that the majority of the firms that were identified as an HGF in the period 2000-2009 were 'one-shot HGFs'. Notwithstanding the rapidly changing composition of the subsets, the profile features of the HGFs in the subset remained relatively constant over time.

Keywords: business growth; firm growth; rapid-growth firms; high-growth firms; HGFs; growth persistence; Flanders; Belgium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2014.066836

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2014 Vol.6 No.4, pp.299 - 330

Received: 13 Mar 2012
Accepted: 13 Jan 2013
Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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Title: Growth persistence and profile robustness of high-growth firms

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