WP 2013-01: Constrained firms, not subsistence activities: Evidence on capital returns and accumulation in Peruvian microenterprises
WP 2013-01: Constrained firms, not subsistence activities: Evidence on capital returns and accumulation in Peruvian microenterprises
WP 2013-01: Constrained firms, not subsistence activities: Evidence on capital returns and accumulation in Peruvian microenterprises
N°
WP 2013-01
Title
Constrained firms, not subsistence activities: Evidence on capital returns and accumulation in Peruvian microenterprises
Author(s)
Kristin Göbel, Michael Grimm and Jann Lay
Language
English
Date
2013/01/31
Abstract
We investigate the returns to capital and capital accumulation using panel data of Peruvian micro enterprises (MEs). Marginal returns to capital are found to be very high at low levels of capital, but rapidly decreasing at higher levels. The dynamic analyses of capital accumulation in MEs suggest that credit constraints explain a major part of the variation in firm growth. We find a very large positive effect of household non-business wealth on capital stocks of MEs. We also show a sizable effect of risk on accumulation and pronounced interactions between wealth and risk. The presented evidence is consistent with poorly endowed entrepreneurs who operate in imperfect capital markets and a very risky environment.