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Cloud computing and firm growth

Author

Listed:
  • Timothy DeStefano
  • Richard Kneller
  • Jonathan Timmis

Abstract

The arrival of the cloud has enabled a shift in the nature of ICT use, from investment in sunk capital to a pay-on-demand service that allows firms to rapidly scale up. This paper uses new firm-level data to examine the impact of cloud on firm growth in the UK, using zipcode-level instruments of the timing of high-speed fibre availability and expected speeds. We find cloud leads to the growth of young firms in terms of employment and productivity, but they become more concentrated in fewer plants. For older firms we find no scale or productivity growth, but instead disperse activity by closing plants and moving employment further from the headquarters. In addition, the plants that close tend to be those without access to fibre broadband.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy DeStefano & Richard Kneller & Jonathan Timmis, 2019. "Cloud computing and firm growth," Discussion Papers 2019-09, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    • Handle: RePEc:not:notgep:2019-09
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    File URL: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/gep/documents/papers/2019/2019-09.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Albert Banal-Estanol & Jo Seldeslachts & Xavier Vives, 2022. "Ownership Diversification and Product Market Pricing Incentives," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2023, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Ranajoy Bhattacharyya & Ripudaman Bhardwaj, 2022. "The Effect of Coronavirus Pandemic on the Rupee Dollar Exchange Rate," Working Papers 2264, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
    3. Anwar Adem & Richard Kneller & Cher Li, 2023. "Information Constraints and Technology Efficiency: Field Experiments Benchmarking Firms Website Performance," CESifo Working Paper Series 10457, CESifo.
    4. Rafael Novella & David Rosas-Shady & Alfredo Alvarado, 2023. "Are we nearly there yet? New technology adoption and labor demand in Peru," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 565-578.
    5. Cathles, Alison & Nayyar, Gaurav & Rückert, Désirée, 2020. "Digital technologies and firm performance: Evidence from Europe," EIB Working Papers 2020/06, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    6. Behrens, Vanessa & Viete, Steffen, 2020. "A note on Germany's role in the fourth industrial revolution," Working Papers 09/2020, German Council of Economic Experts / Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung.
    7. Gilbert Cette & Sandra Nevoux & Loriane Py, 2022. "The impact of ICTs and digitalization on productivity and labor share: evidence from French firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(8), pages 669-692, November.
    8. Andres, Raphaela & Niebel, Thomas & Viete, Steffen, 2024. "Do capital incentive policies support today’s digitization needs?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    9. Flavio Calvino & Luca Fontanelli, 2023. "Artificial intelligence, complementary assets and productivity: evidence from French firms," LEM Papers Series 2023/35, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    10. Inha Oh & Jungho Kim, 2023. "Frontiers and laggards: Which firms benefit from adopting advanced digital technologies?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 753-766, March.
    11. Marinella Boccia & Anna Maria Ferragina & Stefano Iandolo, 2022. "Follow the cloud! The impact of ICT on Italian provinces’ trade," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(4), pages 667-690, December.
    12. Sam Ruiqing Cao & Marco Iansiti, 2022. "Organizational Barriers to Transforming Large Finance Corporations: Cloud Adoption and the Importance of Technological Architecture," CESifo Working Paper Series 10142, CESifo.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm growth; the cloud; ICT use; employment; productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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