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Determinants of profitability in the EU-15 area

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  • Pierpaolo Pattitoni
  • Barbara Petracci
  • Massimo Spisni

Abstract

Using data on private firms in the EU-15 area over the period 2004-2011, we investigate the determinants of firm profitability. We extend existing models by considering possible nonlinear effects of typical micro-level determinants as well as the effect of additional micro-level and macro-level variables. Our findings - obtained using a plethora of econometric static and dynamic models - show that nonlinearities help explain the existence of conflicting theories of determinants of profitability (omitting second-order effects may result in inconsistent estimates) and shed light on the role of the firm's opportunity cost of capital, the majority shareholder commitment level and variables which reflect the economic cycle in explaining firm profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierpaolo Pattitoni & Barbara Petracci & Massimo Spisni, 2014. "Determinants of profitability in the EU-15 area," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(11), pages 763-775, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apfiec:v:24:y:2014:i:11:p:763-775
    DOI: 10.1080/09603107.2014.904488
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    4. M N, Nikhil & Chakraborty, Suman & B M, Lithin & Lobo, Lumen Shawn, 2023. "Does the adoption of Ind AS affect the performance of firms in India?," MPRA Paper 117247, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 18 Apr 2023.
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    7. Antonios Persakis, 2024. "The impact of climate policy uncertainty on ESG performance, carbon emission intensity and firm performance: evidence from Fortune 1000 firms," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 24031-24081, September.
    8. Dawid Szutowski, 2024. "The impact of sectoral and macroeconomic variables on company profitability in the energy sector. Analysis using neural networks," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 55(3), pages 357-380.
    9. Yehui Tong & Ramon Saladrigues, 2022. "An analysis of factors affecting the profits of new firms in Spain: Evidence from the food industry," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(1), pages 28-38.
    10. Stefan Hirsch & David Lanter & Robert Finger, 2021. "Profitability and profit persistence in EU food retailing: Differences between top competitors and fringe firms," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(2), pages 235-263, April.
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    12. Lanter, David & Hirsch, Stefan & Finger, Robert, 2018. "Profitability and Competition in EU Food Retailing," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274202, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Anja Baum & Clay Hacknay & Paulo Medas & Mouhamadou Sy, 2024. "Governance and state-owned enterprises: how costly is corruption?," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 181-208, June.
    14. Muhammad Akhtar & Kong Yusheng & Muhammad Haris & Qurat Ul Ain & Hafiz Mustansar Javaid, 2022. "Impact of financial leverage on sustainable growth, market performance, and profitability," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 737-774, May.
    15. Ozcan Isik & Umit Firat Tasgin, 2017. "Profitability and Its Determinants in Turkish Manufacturing Industry: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Model," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(8), pages 66-75, August.
    16. Zouaghi, Ferdaous & Hirsch, Stefan & Garcia, Mercedes Sanchez, 2016. "What Drives Firm Profitability? A Multilevel Approach To The Spanish Agri-Food Sector," 56th Annual Conference, Bonn, Germany, September 28-30, 2016 244762, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    17. Zsuzsanna Bacsi & Lóránt Dénes Dávid & Zsolt Hollósy, 2022. "Industry Differences in Productivity—In Agriculture and Tourism by Lake Balaton, Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Zhang, Qun & Zhang, Peihui & Liu, Hao, 2023. "Does expected idiosyncratic skewness of firms' profit predict the cross-section of stock returns? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    19. M N, Nikhil & S Shenoy, Sandeep & Chakraborty, Suman & B M, Lithin, 2023. "Is the Nexus Between Capital Structure and Firm Performance Asymmetric? An Emerging Market Perspective," MPRA Paper 119669, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Nov 2023.
    20. Tsagarakis, Konstantinos P., 2020. "Shallow geothermal energy under the microscope: Social, economic, and institutional aspects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P2), pages 2801-2808.
    21. Ms. Anja Baum & Clay Hackney & Mr. Paulo A Medas & Mouhamadou Sy, 2019. "Governance and State-Owned Enterprises: How Costly is Corruption?," IMF Working Papers 2019/253, International Monetary Fund.
    22. Fabio Pieri & Riccardo Verruso, 2019. "The determinants of corporate profitability in the Italian domestic appliances industry," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 46(1), pages 83-115, March.

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