Tamaño, crecimiento y competitividad de las empresas vascas desde un punto de vista económico-financiero

This study analyses a selection of economic and financial indicators associated with competitiveness, by evaluating mean differences between groups of firms according to their size and growth in the Basque country and in the rest of Spain. To that end, information is used concerning the balance sheets and operating accounts of 275,065 firms for the financial years 2008 and 2014. The results show that, the firms with the greatest capability for growth are also the most competitive in terms of improving and maintaining profitability over the course of the period analysed. There is also evidence that it is the firms with the greatest growth and the largest firms that make the most efficient use of their assets and are best able to tackle their debts. Our results also confirm that the weight of financial assets increases gradually with company size. Finally, in line with their needs for additional funding, the firms with the greatest capability for growth are among the most heavily indebted at the end of the period analysed.