The goal of this paper is to point out the role played by private equity investors (venture-capital companies and corporate investors) in the emergence of a new biotechnology industry in Germany in the second half of the 90?s. This analysis takes into account the different business models and...

Freight Transport Time (FTT) is an important resource for manufacturing companies, firstly as a cost driver of logistics processes and secondly as a key factor of customer satisfaction. Yet, there is a lot of controversy between researchers regarding the strength of the link between changes in...

With the enlargement of the European Union, many Central and Eastern European (CEE) manufacturing companies have greater opportunity for internationalizing their activities. Although it is generally held that SMEs have the flexibility and ability to adapt to their environment more quickly than...

We study the implications of vertical integration on innovation performance using firm-level data on Australian manufacturing. We use the data to distinguish between low-cost-oriented and innovation-oriented outsourcing. Outsourcing without innovation lowers costs at the expense of damaging the...

This paper studies the role of efficiency in a firm’s decision to contract out. Emphasis is on the heterogeneous nature of firms and when firms are only considering outsourcing to domestic suppliers. Firm-level data on Australian manufacturing reveal an ordering of efficiency between firms...

With the enlargement of the European Union, many Central and Eastern European (CEE) manufacturing companies have greater opportunity for internationalizing their activities. Although it is generally held that SMEs have the flexibility and ability to adapt to their environment more quickly than...

Les premiers résultats de l’enquête annuelle sur l’évolution des comptes des PME de l’industrie au cours de l’année écoulée sont marqués par une stabilisation de la contrainte de solvabilité.

In 2006, industrial activity accelerated, sustained by SMEs, whose debt ratios were reduced while those of large firms increased. Holding companies now bear over one-third of manufacturing groups’ bank loans.

Les PMI ont bénéficié d’une activité soutenue en 2007, notamment dans les biens d’équipement et les biens intermédiaires. Elles ont investi, tout en maîtrisant leur endettement financier. Leur risque de défaillance n’a pas enregistré à ce jour de dérive. Mais leur situation...

In the context of the economic slowdown, payment incidents and company failures increased. Bank liabilities continued to rise, but less sharply than in 2007.