Abstract
This paper makes an attempt to illustrate the use of econometric models as frame of reference for diagnosing small firm performance. For this purpose, two models are developed explaining differences in labour productivity and profitability among Dutch flower exporters. In addition, we show how these models can be used for inter-firm performance comparisons.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bode, B., J. Koerts, and A. R. Thurik, 1986, ‘Research Note: On Storekeepers' Pricing Behaviour’, Journal of Retailing 62(1), 98–110.
Bode, B., J. Koerts, and A. R. Thurik, 1990, ‘Market Disequilibria and Their Influence on Small Retail Store Pricing’, Small Business Economics 2(1), 45–57.
Cubbin, J. S., 1988, Market Structure and Performance: The Empirical Research, Chur: Harwood Academic Publishers.
Dalen, J. van, J. Koerts, and A. R. Thurik, 1990, ‘The Measurement of Labour Productivity in Wholesaling’, International Journal of Research in Marketing 7, 21–34.
Dalen, J. van, and A. R. Thurik, 1990, ‘Structure and Performance in Wholesaling: The Flourishing Flower Trade’, Paper presented at the XVIIth EARIE Conference, Lisbon.
Dogramaci, A. (ed.), 1983, Developments in Econometic Analyses of Productivity, The Hague: Kluwer-Nijhoff.
Dogramaci, A. (ed.), 1986, Measurement Issues and Behavior of Productivity Variables, Dordrecht: Kluwer-Nijhoff.
Esposito, L., and F. F. Esposito, 1971, ‘Foreign Competition and Domestic Industry Profits’, Review of Economics and Statistics 53 (4), 343–353.
Frenk, J. B. G., A. R. Thurik, and A. C. Bout, 1991, ‘Labour Costs and Queuing Theory in Retailing’, European Journal of Operational Research, forthcoming.
Gautschi, D. A. (ed.), 1983, Productivity and Efficiency in Distribution Systems, Amsterdam: North Holland.
Hoeven, W. H. M. van der, and A. R. Thurik, 1987, ‘Pricing in the Hotel and Catering Sector’, De Economist 135 (2), 201–218.
Jacobs, D., 1990, ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations (Dutch: De concurrentievoordelen van landen)’, Economische Statistische Berichten, 501–503.
Judge, G. G., W. E. Griffiths, R. C. Hill, T.-C. Lee, 1980, The Theory and Practice of Econometrics, New York: Wiley.
Krasker, W. S., E. Kuh, and R. E. Welsch, 1983, ‘Estimation for Dirty Data and Flawed Models’, in Z. Griliches and M. D. Intriligator (eds.), Handbook of Econometrics, Vol. I: Amsterdam: North Holland.
Nooteboom, B., 1980, Retailing: Applied Analysis in the Theory of the Firm, Uithoorn: J. C. Gieben.
Nooteboom, B., 1982, ‘A New Theory of Retailing Costs’, European Economic Review 17, 163–186.
Nooteboom, B., 1985, ‘A Mark-Up Model of Retail Margins’, Applied Economics 17, 647–667.
Nooteboom, B., 1987, ‘Estimation of Threshold Costs in Service Industries’, The Service Industries Journal 7 (1), 65–72.
Pagoulatos, E., and R. Sorenson, 1976, ‘Foreign Trade, Concentration and Profitability in Open Economies’, European Economic Review 8, 255–267.
Porter, M. E., 1990, The Competitive Advantage of Nations, New York: The Free Press.
Schmalensee, R., 1989, ‘Inter-Industry Studies of Structure and Performance’, in R. Schmalensee and R.D. Willig (eds.), Handbook of Industrial Organization, Vol. II, Amsterdam: North Holland.
Thurik, A. R., 1984, Quantitative Analysis of Retail Productivity, Delft: Meinema.
Thurik, A. R., 1990, ‘Small Business Economics: A Perspective from the Netherlands’, Small Business Economics 2(1), 1–10.
Thurik, A. R., and W. H. M. van der Hoeven, 1989, ‘Manufacturing Margins: Differences Between Small and Large Firms’, Economics Letters 29, 353–359.
Thurik, A. R., and A. Kleijweg, 1986, ‘Procyclical Retail Labour Productivity’, Bulletin of Economic Research 38(2), 169–175.
Wijst, D. van der, 1985, ‘The Comparative Assessment of Small Business Performance: Inter-firm Comparison as Early Warning System’, Research Paper 8507, Zoetermeer: Research Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Business.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Dalen, J., Thurik, R. Labour productivity and profitability in the Dutch flower trade. Small Business Economics 3, 131–144 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388447
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388447