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Bankruptcy and Voluntary Liquidation: Evidence for New Firms in East and West Germany after Unification

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  • Prantl, Susanne

Abstract

Exploiting the unique economic situation after German unification, I investigate how exit decisions deviate between new firms in a transition and a comparatively stable market environment. Two competing exit mechanisms are considered: entrepreneurial self-selection via voluntary liquidation and external selection based on insolvency regulation. Distinguishing between the competing exit modes proves to be crucial in semi-parametric propor- tional hazard-rate estimations. Comparing East and West Germany, I find distinct education and size effects and a higher share of bankruptcy-related liquidations in East Germany. These results are argued to reflect different industry structures, capital and labor market conditions in both parts of Germany.

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  • Prantl, Susanne, 2003. "Bankruptcy and Voluntary Liquidation: Evidence for New Firms in East and West Germany after Unification," ZEW Discussion Papers 03-72, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:1682
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    4. Gude, Hardy & Metzger, Georg & Kohn, Karsten & Ullrich, Katrin & Fryges, Helmut & Gottschalk, Sandra & Müller, Kathrin & Murmann, Martin & Niefert, Michaela, 2011. "KfW/ZEW-Gründungspanel 2011: Vom Aufschwung getragen? Startschwierigkeiten und Wachstumschancen junger Unternehmen," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 161820.
    5. Gude, Hardy & Kohn, Karsten & Ullrich, Katrin & Fryges, Helmut & Gottschalk, Sandra & Müller, Kathrin & Niefert, Michaela, 2010. "KfW/ZEW-Gründungspanel 2010: Aufbruch nach dem Sturm. Junge Unternehmen zwischen Investitionsschwäche und Innovationsstrategie," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 161819.
    6. Sandra Gottschalk & Francis J. Greene & Bettina Müller, 2017. "The impact of habitual entrepreneurial experience on new firm closure outcomes," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 303-321, February.
    7. Berger, Marius & Egeln, Jürgen & Gottschalk, Sandra, 2019. "Innovative Unternehmensgründungen in Deutschland: Auswertungen aus dem IAB/ZEW Gründungspanel," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 13-2019, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    8. Balcaen,S. & Buyze, J. & Ooghe,H., 2009. "Financial distress and firm exit: determinants of involuntary exits, voluntary liquidations and restructuring exits," Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Working Paper Series 2009-21, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.
    9. Sofie Balcaen & Sophie Manigart & Jozefien Buyze & Hubert Ooghe, 2012. "Firm exit after distress: differentiating between bankruptcy, voluntary liquidation and M&A," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 949-975, November.
    10. Eichhorst, Werner & Füner, Lena & Gottschalk, Sandra & Rinne, Ulf, 2024. "Bedeutung von Betriebsräten in Start-up-Unternehmen," IZA Research Reports 143, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Peng XU, 2019. "Exit of Small Businesses: Differentiating between Insolvency, Voluntary Closures and M&A," Discussion papers 19051, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Müller, Bettina, 2006. "Human capital and successful academic spin-off," ZEW Discussion Papers 06-081, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    13. Fackler, Daniel, 2014. "Establishment survival in East and West Germany: A comparative analysis," Discussion Papers 90, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Chair of Labour and Regional Economics.
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    15. Fier, Andreas & Heneric, Oliver, 2005. "Public R&D Policy: The Right Turns of the Wrong Screw? The Case of the German Biotechnology Industry," ZEW Discussion Papers 05-60, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    16. Gee Hee HONG & ITO Arata & NGUYEN Thi Ngoc Anh & SAITO Yukiko, 2022. "Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Create More Zombie Firms in Japan?," Discussion papers 22072, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    17. Dan LUPU, 2014. "Analysis Of Conceptual Approaches For The Firm In Difficulty," Journal of Public Administration, Finance and Law, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 5(5), pages 110-116, June.
    18. Huong Dang, 2014. "A Competing Risks Dynamic Hazard Approach to Investigate the Insolvency Outcomes of Property-Casualty Insurers," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 39(1), pages 42-76, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exit; Bankruptcy; Voluntary Liquidation; Transition Economy; Duration Analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • P30 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - General
    • P52 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Studies of Particular Economies
    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies

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