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Company size distribution for developing countries

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  • Hernández-Pérez, R.
  • Angulo-Brown, F.
  • Tun, Dionisio

Abstract

We analyze company size distribution for developing countries using the framework proposed by Ramsden and Kiss-Haypál [Physica A 277 (2000) 220]. Although this distribution does not fit developing countries data as good as it does to developed ones, the parameters of the distribution (θ and ρ) for developing countries are remarkably different to those for developed countries. This result supports the hypothesis that parameter θ plays a role analogous to the temperature of the economy, which could be related to the level of economic development, as reported previously by Saslow [Am. J. Phys. 67 (1999) 1239]. Also, this supports the hypothesis that ρ is related to the competitive exclusion in economics, as ρ tending to zero implies the competition free limit case where company size distribution is predicted to be a power-law, as reported by Takayasu and Okuyama [Fractals 6 (1998) 67]. Finally, we report the goodness of fit for two functions: a finite-size scaling and a log–normal. We found that these functions fit the data better in some cases. However, this is not in itself sufficient evidence that those functions are an appropriate representation of the phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • Hernández-Pérez, R. & Angulo-Brown, F. & Tun, Dionisio, 2006. "Company size distribution for developing countries," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 359(C), pages 607-618.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:359:y:2006:i:c:p:607-618
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2005.04.027
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    8. A. A. Blokhin & A. A. Likhachev, 2021. "Institutional Barriers for Fast Growing Companies," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 364-373, July.
    9. Pascoal, Rui & Augusto, Mário & Monteiro, A.M., 2016. "Size distribution of Portuguese firms between 2006 and 2012," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 458(C), pages 342-355.
    10. Bloom, Nicholas & Sadun, Raffaella & Lemos, Renata & Scur, Daniela & Van Reenen, John, 2014. "The new empirical economics of management," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58009, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Musa, Hussam & Krištofík, Peter & Medzihorský, Juraj & Klieštik, Tomáš, 2024. "The development of firm size distribution – Evidence from four Central European countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 98-110.
    12. Junho Na & Jeong-dong Lee & Chulwoo Baek, 2017. "Is the service sector different in size heterogeneity?," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 12(1), pages 95-120, April.
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    14. Juan Manuel Torres Rojo & David B. Bray & Octavio S. Magaña, 2008. "The Role of Scale in Mexican Community Forest Management," Working Papers DTE 451, CIDE, División de Economía.
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