Firm growth: A review of the empirical literature

Abstract

The objective of this research is to review and unify the empirical literature that identifies the determining factors for firm growth. A list of 165 articles forms the backbone of the present review of the empirical literature on firm growth. Based on this review, we provide a synthesis of numerous determinant factors associated with firm growth. Specifically, we enumerate and detail the determining factors in three blocks: entrepreneur’s idiosyncratic features, firm’s internal factors, and factors external to the firm. The work provides a better understanding of the complex process of growth, shows the shortcomings in empirical research on the growth of the firm and presents directions for future research.