What do small firms when given an income tax cut? We address this question by examining the consequences of a sharp reduction in corporate rate for small- and micro-profit enterprises (SMPE) China based on confidential returns. Utilizing gradual increases qualifying threshold SMPEs during 2010-2016, we find that newly qualified with positive taxable increased investment, interest expense produc...

High performance work practices (HPWPs) are human resource management practices aimed at stimulating employee and organisational performance. The application of HPWPs is not widespread in small organisations. We examine whether the implementation of coherent bundles of HPWPs (aimed at employee ability, employee motivation or at the opportunity to perform) depends on the scarcity of resources, a...

In this paper, we investigate whether and how personal bankruptcy law a ects small rms' access to credit. When a rm is unincorporated, its debts are personal liabilities of the rm's owner, so that lending to the rm is equivalent to lending to its owner. If the rm fails, the owner has an incentive to le for personal bankruptcy in order to obtain discharge of the rm's debts. While bankruptcy law ...

The spread of information technology and the dissolution of international borders have had a significant impact on the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Innovative behaviour on the part of SMEs is a prerequisite for a successful transformation of the opportunities offered by these structural changes into growth and profitability. Thus, the ...

As many larger secondary woodworking firms have moved production offshore and been adversely impacted by the recent housing downturn, smaller firms have become important to driving U.S. hardwood demand. This study compared and contrasted small and large firms on a number of factors to help determine the unique characteristics of small firms and to provide insights into useful areas for support....

The economics of small group insurance makes offering health benefits to employees a risky business. Surveys of employers from 1989 to 2003 reveal that more rapid premium increases are forcing small firms to impose higher cost-sharing. In 2003, premiums for small firms (3-199 workers) increased 15.5 percent, outpacing the 13.2 percent increase for large firms (200+ workers). From 2000 to 2003, ...