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Survival of Firms during Economic Crisis

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  • Bosio,Erica
  • Djankov,Simeon
  • Jolevski,Filip
  • Ramalho,Rita

Abstract

This paper estimates the survival time of nearly 7,000 firms in a dozen high-income and middle-income countries in a scenario of extreme economic distress, using the World Bank's Enterprises Surveys. Under the assumption that firms have no incoming revenues and cover only fixed costs, the median survival time across industries ranges within 8 to 19 weeks, while on average firms have liquidity to survive between 12 and 38 weeks. Schumpeter's theory of creative destruction is not corroborated in the data, as potential exit is not predicated on the size of firms, their age, or their productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Bosio,Erica & Djankov,Simeon & Jolevski,Filip & Ramalho,Rita, 2020. "Survival of Firms during Economic Crisis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9239, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9239
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Stijn Claesens & Simeon Djankov & Ashoka Mody, 2001. "Resolution of Financial Distress : An International Perspective on the Design of Bankruptcy Laws," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 14029.
    6. Elena Cefis & Orietta Marsili, 2019. "Good times, bad times: innovation and survival over the business cycle," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(3), pages 565-587.
    7. Ivashina, Victoria & Scharfstein, David, 2010. "Bank lending during the financial crisis of 2008," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(3), pages 319-338, September.
    8. repec:bla:jfinan:v:53:y:1998:i:3:p:939-978 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Barlevy, Gadi, 2003. "Credit market frictions and the allocation of resources over the business cycle," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(8), pages 1795-1818, November.
    10. Hopenhayn, Hugo A, 1992. "Entry, Exit, and Firm Dynamics in Long Run Equilibrium," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 60(5), pages 1127-1150, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Apergis, Nicholas & Lau, Chi Keung & Xu, Bing, 2023. "The impact of COVID-19 on stock market liquidity: Fresh evidence on listed Chinese firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Adian,Ikmal & Doumbia,Djeneba & Gregory,Neil & Ragoussis,Alexandros & Reddy,Aarti & Timmis,Jonathan David, 2020. "Small and Medium Enterprises in the Pandemic : Impact, Responses and the Role of Development Finance," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9414, The World Bank.
    3. Dinu Mihai & Mănescu Cătalin Octavian & Spiridon Carmen Elena & Mogoş Liliana & Ganea Otilia, 2024. "The Competitiveness of Financial Support Measures in the Context of the Pandemic," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 770-778.
    4. Julija Bistrova & Natalja Lace & Ludmila Kasperovica, 2021. "Enterprise Crisis-Resilience and Competitiveness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, February.
    5. repec:ctc:sdimse:dime21_01 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Harasztosi, Péter & Savšek, Simon, 2022. "Productivity and responses to the pandemic: Firm-level evidence," EIB Working Papers 2022/09, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    7. Miyakawa, Daisuke & Oikawa, Koki & Ueda, Kozo, 2021. "Firm Exit during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    8. Magdalena Olczyk & Marta Ewa Kuc-Czarnecka, 2021. "Determinants of COVID-19 Impact on the Private Sector: A Multi-Country Analysis Based on Survey Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Apergis, Nicholas & Danuletiu, Dan & Xu, Bing, 2022. "CDS spreads and COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Benedikt Janzen & Doina Maria Radulescu, 2021. "Effects of Covid-19 Related Government Response Stringency and Support Policies: Evidence from European Firms," CESifo Working Paper Series 9116, CESifo.
    11. Janzen, Benedikt & Radulescu, Doina, 2022. "Effects of COVID-19 related government response stringency and support policies: Evidence from European firms," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 129-145.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    General Manufacturing; Plastics&Rubber Industry; Construction Industry; Textiles; Apparel&Leather Industry; Pulp&Paper Industry; Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies; Food&Beverage Industry; Common Carriers Industry; Bankruptcy and Resolution of Financial Distress; Employment and Unemployment; Finance and Development; Financial Economics; International Trade and Trade Rules;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure

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