Showing papers by "Alex Coad published in 2015"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used panel quantile regression techniques to examine the negative impact of unemployment on subjective wellbeing distribution and found that individuals with high life satisfaction suffer less from becoming unemployed.
Abstract: Unemployment has been robustly shown to strongly decrease subjective wellbeing. Using panel quantile regression techniques, we analyse to what extent the negative impact of unemployment varies along the (conditional) subjective wellbeing distribution. In our analysis of British Household Panel Survey data (1996–2008), we find that individuals with high life satisfaction suffer less from becoming unemployed. A similar but stronger effect is found for a broad mental wellbeing variable (GHQ-12). Higher wellbeing seems to act like a safety net when becoming unemployed. We explore these findings by examining the heterogeneous unemployment effects over the conditional quantiles of various life domain satisfactions.
46 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a rich dataset on all limited liability firms in Sweden during 1997-2010, covering firms of all ages and information on registered start year, and found that sales growth for new ventures is characterized by positive persistence, whereas it quickly turns negative and remains negative as firms get older.
Abstract: Is firm growth more persistent for young or old firms? Theory gives us no clear answer, and previous empirical investigations have been hampered by a lack of detailed data on firm age, as well as a non-representative coverage of young firms. We overcome these shortcomings using a rich dataset on all limited liability firms in Sweden during 1997-2010, covering firms of all ages and information on registered start year. We find that sales growth for new ventures is characterized by positive persistence, whereas it quickly turns negative and remains negative as firms get older. It thus seems that the growth paths of older firms are buffeted around by environmental turbulence, and that older firms may have challenges in adapting their strategies to changing market conditions, whereas new firms experience an early burst of sustained growth.
38 citations
04 Aug 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify some Stylized Facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
Abstract: High-growth firms (HGFs) make a considerable contribution to economic growth, and in recent years they have received increasing interest from entrepreneurship scholars. By analysing recent findings in the literature of high-growth firms, this study identifies some Stylized Facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors respond to Derbyshire and Garnsey's article "Firm growth and the illusion of randomness", adding theoretical and methological clarifications as well as some new empirical evidence.
27 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify stylized facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
Abstract: High Growth Firms (HGFs) make a considerable contribution to economic growth, and in recent years they have received increasing interest from entrepreneurship scholars. By analysing recent findings in the literature of high growth firms, this study identifies some stylized facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
25 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors combine a quantile analysis with matching techniques to analyse the negative impact of unemployment along the well-being distribution of a comprehensive wellbeing variable (GHQ-12) and find that mentally less well-off individuals suffer from unemployment more strongly than those scoring high in mental wellbeing.
Abstract: Unemployment has a heterogeneous effect on well-being. We combine a quantile analysis with matching techniques to analyse the negative impact of unemployment along the well-being distribution of a comprehensive well-being variable. In our analysis of British Household Panel Survey data (1996–2008) we focus on transitions into unemployment and find that average effects of unemployment on a comprehensive well-being variable are less strong than on typical life satisfaction measures. The effect of unemployment on a broad mental well-being variable (GHQ-12) is reversed and mentally less well-off individuals suffer from unemployment more strongly than those scoring high in mental well-being.
13 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: A variety of quantitative techniques have been used in the past in Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) as discussed by the authors, however, it is often unclear how they differ, when the use of a techniques is appropriate, what type of insights it may yield, and how they can be combined.
Abstract: A variety of quantitative techniques have been used in the past in Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA). In recent years, increased computational power and algorithms, web-based searching, and data availability have led to the emergence of new techniques that are potentially useful for foresight and forecasting. As a result, there is now a wide palette of techniques that might be used in FTA exercises. However, it is often unclear how they differ, when the use of a techniques is appropriate, what type of insights it may yield, and how they can be combined. This article reviews and qualifies quantitative methods for FTA in order to help users to make choices among alternative techniques, including new techniques that have not been integrated yet in the FTA literature and practice. We first provide a working definition of Future- Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) and discuss its role, uses, and popularity over recent decades. Second, we select 22 FTA techniques identified as the most important quantitative FTA techniques and then we review these techniques, discuss their main contexts and uses, and classify them into groups with common characteristics, positioning them along four key dimensions: descriptive/prescriptive; extrapolative/normative; data gathering/inference; and forecasting/foresight.
4 citations
11 Aug 2015
TL;DR: This article examined factors contributing to high technology firms' long-run growth using a unique longitudinal dataset combining two waves of detailed surveys of 345 UK high tech firms with performance data from UK official datasets.
Abstract: Despite the importance of high technology firms to the global economy, relatively little is known about factors contributing to these firms’ long-run growth. We examine these factors using a unique longitudinal dataset combining two waves of detailed surveys of 345 UK high tech firms with performance data from UK official datasets. Overall we conclude that the early strategic decisions made by firms have long-run impacts on their subsequent growth, and we suggest that policy measures targeted at shortfalls faced by these firms may have positive long-term consequences.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a comparison between data on the first three years of the UK Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and US Small Business Administration (SBIR) is made.
Abstract: In this paper a
comparison is made
between data on
the US S
mall
B
usiness
I
nnovation
R
esearch
programme (SBIR)
and UK
Small Business Research Initiative (
SBRI
)
(Tredgett & Coad 2013).
Quantitative data on the first three y
ears of the UK SBRI (2009
–
2013
) was compared to
data on
the first three y
ears of the US SBIR (1983
–
1987
) from the US Small Business Administration.
The data includes numbers of competitions, applicants and mo
ney spent on research contracts
.
Some key differences in implementation of the two
initiatives are identified and discussed in
relation to the quantitative data. Quantitative data shows that while the US SBIR had steady
growth, the UK SBRI has had a shaky start. Possible explanations for these results are suggested.
Further work to stren
gthen the data and improve the validity of the evaluation is then outlined.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify stylized facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
Abstract: High Growth Firms (HGFs) make a considerable contribution to economic growth, and in recent years they have received increasing interest from entrepreneurship scholars. By analysing recent findings in the literature of high growth firms, this study identifies some stylized facts, as well as contradictory findings, and also some unknowns regarding the determinants and internal strategies of HGFs, particularly on the persistence of their superior growth performance and the implications of recent findings for economic policy.
4 citations
TL;DR: A variety of quantitative techniques have been used in the past in Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) as mentioned in this paper, however, it is often unclear how they differ, when the use of a techniques is appropriate, what type of insights it may yield, and how they can be combined.
Abstract: A variety of quantitative techniques have been used in the past in Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA). In recent years, increased computational power and algorithms, web-based searching, and data availability have led to the emergence of new techniques that are potentially useful for foresight and forecasting. As a result, there is now a wide palette of techniques that might be used in FTA exercises. However, it is often unclear how they differ, when the use of a techniques is appropriate, what type of insights it may yield, and how they can be combined. This article reviews and qualifies quantitative methods for FTA in order to help users to make choices among alternative techniques, including new techniques that have not been integrated yet in the FTA literature and practice. We first provide a working definition of Future-Oriented Technology Analysis (FTA) and discuss its role, uses, and popularity over recent decades. Second, we select 22 FTA techniques identified as the most important quantitative FTA techniques and then we review these techniques, discuss their main contexts and uses, and classify them into groups with common characteristics, positioning them along four key dimensions: descriptive/prescriptive; extrapolative/normative; data gathering/inference; and forecasting/foresight.
24 Apr 2015
TL;DR: In the UK, there has been considerable official interest in this form of economic activity since small businesses and enterprise were discovered by public policy in the UK during the 1960s, commencing in earnest with the publication of the Bolton Committee (1971) report as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Since small businesses and enterprise were ‘discovered’ by public policy in the UK during the 1960s, commencing in earnest with the publication of the Bolton Committee (1971) report, there has been considerable official interest in this form of economic activity. The Conservative Government from 1979 to 1997 initially saw enterprise as a strategy for job creation but later switched to a focus on growth. The Labour Government after 1997 continued this ‘cross-party’ support, although it placed greater weight upon the potential role of enterprise to address wider issues of ‘social inclusion’, e.g. HM Treasury (1999), than its predecessor government. The election of a Conservative-led coalition in 2010, faced with a challenging macro-economic environment, meant that once again small businesses and enterprise creation were seen as playing a critical role in a UK economy seeking to emerge from recession (Greene, 2002; Greene et al., 2008).
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a rich dataset on all limited liability firms in Sweden during 1997-2010, covering firms of all ages and information on registered start year, and found that sales growth for new ventures is characterized by positive persistence, whereas it quickly turns negative and remains negative as firms get older.
Abstract: Is firm growth more persistent for young or old firms? Theory gives us no clear answer, and previous empirical investigations have been hampered by a lack of detailed data on firm age, as well as a non-representative coverage of young firms. We overcome these shortcomings using a rich dataset on all limited liability firms in Sweden during 1997-2010, covering firms of all ages and information on registered start year. We find that sales growth for new ventures is characterized by positive persistence, whereas it quickly turns negative and remains negative as firms get older. It thus seems that the growth paths of older firms are buffeted around by environmental turbulence, and that older firms may have challenges in adapting their strategies to changing market conditions, whereas new firms experience an early burst of sustained growth.