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Born global firms in knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) – what do we know of their performance?

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  • Halldin, Torbjörn

    (CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies, Royal Institute of Technology)

Abstract

This paper studies the performance of KIBS firms that are aimed for global markets from inception. Despite the increasing importance of KIBS, no previous study has investigated born global firms in this sector of the economy. Three definitions are used to categorize firms as born global. Both OLS and a nearest neighbor matching approach are implemented to find evidence of higher growth in employment and sales per employee five years after firm foundation. Finally, the findings are robust to a finer array of born global definitions and time horizons of firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Halldin, Torbjörn, 2012. "Born global firms in knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) – what do we know of their performance?," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 270, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0270
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Born global firms; firm performance; knowledge intensive business sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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