The development of high-growth agribusinesses in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis

The impact of the 2008 financial crisis has led the region of Central Catalonia, Spain, to rely even more on agribusiness. This industry represents a large share of employment and sales income in the region. In addition, high-growth firms drive a disproportionate share of regional economic growth. We therefore analyse the economic and financial health of high-growth agribusinesses in Central Catalonia during the period 2008-2013. We find that these firms exercise frugal financial management during the studied years, and that their economic profitability is a function of their solvency and the employee productivity. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings.