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Growth in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: Evidence from Lombardy

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  • Nicoletta Corrocher
  • Lucia Cusmano
  • Camilla Lenzi

Abstract

This paper studies the growth patterns in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) in Lombardy on the basis of original firm-level survey data. The aim is to investigate in particular the role of and interplay between age and size of firms and the modes of innovation in the process of growth. Our findings indicate that younger firms tend to outperform incumbents for sales growth and that larger firms tend to grow more than smaller companies. However, the effects of firm size and age vary substantially according to the firm's specific pattern of innovation. In particular, highly innovative firms tend to outperform competitors regardless of their age or size, while for conservative KIBS, size is a prerequisite for growth. Investment in human capital and the service distribution network are important drivers of competition for growing KIBS.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicoletta Corrocher & Lucia Cusmano & Camilla Lenzi, 2013. "Growth in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: Evidence from Lombardy," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 563-584, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:20:y:2013:i:6:p:563-584
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2013.833376
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alex Coad, 2007. "Firm Growth: a Survey," Post-Print halshs-00155762, HAL.
    2. Muller, Emmanuel & Doloreux, David, 2007. "The key dimensions of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) analysis: a decade of evolution," Working Papers "Firms and Region" U1/2007, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
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    5. Marco Bettiol & Eleonora Di Maria & Roberto Grandinetti, 2013. "The Evolution of KIBS between Standardization and Customization: The Rise of Combinatory KIBS," DRUID Working Papers 13-08, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    6. Orietta Marsili, 2001. "The Anatomy and Evolution of Industries," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2272.
    7. Schivardi, Fabiano & Torrini, Roberto, 2004. "Threshold effects and firm size: the case of firing costs," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 19956, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mihai CIOC & Minodora URSACESCU, 2015. "The Impact Of Eu Grant Support On Innovative Entrepreneurship:Characteristics Of Innovative Start-Ups And Spin-Offs At National Level," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 9(1), pages 209-215, November.
    2. Malgorzata Zieba, 2013. "Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (Kibs) And Their Role In The Knowledge-Based Economy," GUT FME Working Paper Series A 7, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology.

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