Adrian Gourlay

The determinants of export behaviour in UK service firms

This paper examines the determinants of export behaviour for a panel of UK service industry firms from 1988 to 2001. Export behaviour is modelled in a dual manner: as both the decision to export and the intensity of exporting. The results indicate that firm size, research intensity, average directors pay and the variance of the sterling–dollar exchange rate all increase the probability of becoming an exporter. In addition, the results indicate that the process underlying a firms decision to export is a separate one from that determining export intensity, implying that the two decisions should be modelled separately.

The Determinants of Technology Diffusion: Evidence from the UK Financial Sector

We investigate the role of firm- and industry-specific factors in the diffusion of automated teller machines in the UK financial sector. A duration model of technology adoption is employed in the empirical modelling and is applied to an annual panel of adoption histories over the period 1972-97. The main factors affecting the diffusion of new technology are found to be endogenous learning, cumulative learning-by-doing effects, firm size, growth and profitability, and price expectations. There is little evidence, however, to support the role of stock effects in the diffusion process. The results are found to be robust across a number of specifications of the baseline hazard function. Copyright 2002 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester

Explaining the decision to export: evidence from UK firms

In this study the determinants of export probability are investigated for a panel of 2134 UK firms between 1988 and 2001. Firm size, product diversification, innovation and human-capital are all found to increase the probability of exporting. It is also found that the variance of the sterling–dollar rate has a positive effect on export probability in a majority of industries, lending support to stock option theories of export behaviour.

The determinants of firm diversification in UK quoted companies

This paper examines the role of resource-based and governance factors in determining the boundaries of UK quoted companies, measured by both the probability and intensity of market diversification. Using a panel of over 2000 firms for the period 1988 to 2001 it is found that firm-level heterogeneity and industry characteristics account for the variability in diversification behaviour and that resource-based and governance factors interact in a complex manner not necessarily fully explained by the theoretical literature. The results also indicate that the degree of data aggregation has significant implications for the empirical modelling of market diversification.

Regional Growth and SMEs in Brazil: A Spatial Panel Approach

Cravo T. A., Becker B. and Gourlay A. Regional growth and SMEs in Brazil: a spatial panel approach, Regional Studies. This paper examines economic growth for a panel of 508 Brazilian micro-regions for the period 1980–2004, using spatial econometrics and paying particular attention to the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings indicate the presence of spatial dependence in the process of economic growth and the existence of two spatial regimes in Brazil. The human capital level of the whole population is an important growth determinant, but does not generate positive spillovers. Furthermore, human capital embodied in SMEs is more important than the size of this sector for regional growth and SME activity generates positive spatial spillovers.

Export intensity in UK firms

The determination of export intensity for a panel of 1623 UK firms from 1988 to 2001 was investigated. The results support most theories of export intensity, and in particular the role of firm size, product differentiation, governance and technological factors. By exploiting the heterogeneity of firm financial calendars a unique Sterling-Dollar exchange rate is calculated for each firm which is found to have a significant effect on export intensity.

Modelling product and foreign market diversification decisions for UK firms

This article contributes to the firm market diversification literature by using a bivariate probit model analogous to SURE vs. OLS for probit estimation to examine the market diversification decisions for a panel of UK firms. We extend the current literature to include director remuneration and firm-specific exchange rates. We find that firm size, wages, R&D, directors remuneration and the level and variability of exchange rates all have a significant impact on the probability of a firm diversifying into foreign markets.