Title: Associating firm characteristics with dynamic exporting activity

Authors: Ilias A. Makris

Addresses: Department of Accounting and Finance, Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese, Antikalamos Messinia PC: 24 100, Kalamata, Greece

Abstract: In this paper, we attempt to identify firm characteristics that are associated with dynamic exporting activity. After discussing the methodological difficulties of measuring exports, an alterative approach in determining exporting dynamism is illustrated. Different classes of exporters are created and an appropriate econometric model relying on exports' income is developed and tested on a large dataset of Greek firms, for its ability to interpret exporting dynamism. Findings indicate that dynamic exporters present better economic and non-economic indicators (profitability, size, employment etc.). Furthermore, we argue that a strong methodological outcome is achieved, only when most and least dynamic firm are compared. Otherwise, findings appear to be rather vague, confirming the problems underlined in literature, when exports are included in empirical analysis.

Keywords: dynamic exporting; firm characteristics; regression modelling; firm performance; exporting dynamism; Greece; econometrics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2014.064993

International Journal of Business Environment, 2014 Vol.6 No.4, pp.411 - 425

Received: 15 Nov 2013
Accepted: 11 Jan 2014
Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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