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Firm Growth and Liquidity Constraints: A Dynamic Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Blandina Oliveira

    (ESTG, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria)

  • Adelino Fortunato

    (GEMF and Faculdade de Economia, Universidade de Coimbra)

Abstract

Using a large unbalanced panel data set of Portuguese manufacturing firms surviving over the period from 1990 to 2001, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether liquidity constraints faced by business firms affect firm growth. We use a GMM-system to estimate a dynamic panel data model of firm growth that incorporates cash flow as a measure of liquidity constraints and persistence of growth. The model is estimated for all size classes, including micro firms. Our findings suggest that smaller and younger firms have higher growth-cash flow sensitivities than larger and more mature firms. This is consistent with the suggestion that financial constraints on firm growth may be relatively more severe for small and young firms. Finally, firms that were small and young and strongly liquidity-constrained at the beginning of the sample period exhibited more persistent growth than those that were large and old and weakly liquidity-constrained. These results have significant policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Blandina Oliveira & Adelino Fortunato, 2005. "Firm Growth and Liquidity Constraints: A Dynamic Analysis," GEMF Working Papers 2005-07, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
    • Handle: RePEc:gmf:wpaper:2005-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm size; firm growth; liquidity constraints; GMM estimator; panel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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