C82 - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data AccessReturn

The paper quantifies the role of factors associated with the growth (or decline) of micro and small businesses in European economies. The growth is related to the levels of employment and value added in enterprises, as well as, ten institutional variables. We test the data for consistency of behavioural patterns in various countries and gradually remove outlying observations that can lead to erroneous conclusions when using the classic estimators; this is a quite unique approach in panel data analysis. In the first part of this paper we outline a highly robust method of estimation based on fixed effects and least trimmed squares (LTS). In its second part we apply this method on the panel data of 28 countries in 2002-2008 testing for the hypothesis that micro and small businesses in Europe use different strategies for their growth. We run a series of econometric tests where we regress employment and total net production in micro and small businesses on three economic factors: gross capital returns, labour cost gaps in small relative to large enterprises and GDP per capita. In addition, we test the role of 10 institutional factors in the growth of family businesses.

The paper focuses on net external assets (NEA) in developed and transition countries in 1995, 2000, and 2005. The net international investment position is used as the main NEA indicator. In addition, alternative NEA estimates for developed countries are based on the cumulated current account, the cumulated financial and capital accounts, and the net factor income from abroad. The NEA estimates are divided by the gross domestic product (GDP) based on the U.S. dollar exchange rate. We identify the most important net creditors and net debtors, for which we study the average behavior of the real product growth, the unemployment rate, and the inflation rate among developed countries. We conclude that all the given estimates of NEA are good but imperfect.

We present rough estimates of net external assets for 8 regions and 51 states of the United States. These estimates have been derived from the data on gross state product and state personal income. We identify the largest creditors and debtors and observe relatively important disparities in net external assets across the states and regions. The analysis is also focused on various trends in the indebtedness of regional economies. Using the correlation matrices for selected base years, the degree of capital mobility across regions and states is quantiied. We provide some evidence that states are more open to capital lows than regions. In the end, the convergence of net external assets between 1980 and 2000 is conirmed.