Using the eurostat-OECD definition of high-growth firms: a cautionary note

Sven-Olov Daunfeldt, Dan Johansson and Daniel Halvarsson

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 2015, vol. 4, issue 1, 50-56

Abstract: Purpose - – High-growth firms (HGFs) have attracted an increasing amount of attention from researchers and policymakers, and the Eurostat-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definition of HGFs has become increasingly popular. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors use a longitudinal firm-level data set to analyze the implications of using the Eurostat-OECD definition. Findings - – The results indicate that this definition excluded almost 95 percent of surviving firms in Sweden, and about 40 percent of new private jobs during 2005-2008. Research limitations/implications - – The proportion of small firms and their growth patterns differ across countries, and the authors therefore advise caution in using this definition in future studies. Practical implications - – Policy based on the Eurostat-OECD definition of HGFs might be misleading or even counterproductive. Originality/value - – No previous studies have analyzed the implications of using the Eurostat-OECD definition of HGFs.

Keywords: Industrial policy; Firm performance; Small to medium sized enterprises; Gazelles; High-growth firms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:jepppp:v:4:y:2015:i:1:p:50-56

DOI: 10.1108/JEPP-05-2013-0020

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