How flexible are small firms? An analysis on the determinants of flexibility

Although the standard microeconomic analysis is usually based on the assumption of the existence of a “representative firm,” it is known, as early as the time of the classical economists, that industrial economies are characterized by persistent heterogeneity among firms. Flexibility is one of the main sources of heterogeneity that is used to explain the vitality of small firms. It is suggested that small firms are more flexible than large firms; therefore, they can survive in an uncertain environment. This paper studies four sources of flexibility (technology, employment, networking, and entry/exit) in Turkish manufacturing industries. Whereas there are no differences between small and large firms in terms of flexibility of technology and employment practices, dynamic aspects, i.e. entry, exit, and growth processes are the main sources of small firm flexibility.