This paper provides new empirical evidence on the impact of formal business networking on SME growth. More specifically, using a large, unbalanced panel data set of Flemish SMEs over the period 1992-2008, we examine whether participation in a government-supported program aimed at intense...

This study presents survey evidence on the magnitude and determinants of tax compliance costs in Flemish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Data were obtained from an internet questionnaire among members of a professional network of Flemish entrepreneurs, called VOKA. Analyzing a sample...

Manuscript Type: Empirical<br> Research Question/Issue: Using a unique database on insider trading in Belgium, we investigate whether high-quality corporate communication, as proxied by disclosure scores of professional financial analysts, reduces the profitability of insider trading.<br> Research...

This paper empirically assesses whether knowledge networking affects the growth of small service firms. More specifically, using a large, unbalanced panel data set for the period 1992- 2009, we investigate whether participation in a knowledge network called PLATO is positively related to service...

First, this paper gives an overview of the progress Europe has made in its development of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). Second, we use firm level data from a listed multinational to investigate how several designs for the CCCTB apportionment formula could affect the...

The 2007 global financial crisis led to a chaotic financial environment characterized by highly uncertain and volatile stock markets. This created additional uncertainty about the fundamental value of shares and potentially increased the benefit of inside information. In this paper, we use event...

We investigate whether the 2008 financial crisis had an impact on companies’ trade credit, and whether changes in trade credit mitigated the crisis’ impact on firm profitability. We document that the availability of trade credit decreased, and that this decline is more pronounced, the higher...

Most countries of the world have developed a wide array of government assistance programs for companies. However, it is only recently that researchers have started to evaluate the benefits of these programs empirically. This paper contributes to this emerging area of research by examining...

The geographic concentration of retail firms is a remarkable phenomenon. Existing literature suggests that retail firms benefit from spatial concentration in terms of heightened demand. However, the proximity to other firms also intensifies competition and results in higher costs for land and...

The European Commission (EC) has the intention to establish a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, which requires an allocation formula to fairly distribute the consolidated tax base among all group entities. A fair distribution would mean that the allocation is closely related to the profit...