What influences firms' perceptions?

摘要

Perceptions-based indicators are sometimes used to measure the quality of the business environment. For instance, firms are asked about the major constraints on business operations and expansion. Little is known, however, about what shapes their responses. In this paper, using perceptions-based indicators from 38 countries (84 country-year pairs) from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, we argue that firm responses are critically influenced by macroeconomic conditions. Paradoxically, we find that perceptions worsen during periods of high GDP growth. We also examine other indicators from the Enterprise Surveys that are objective measures of constraints, and find mixed evidence on how business constraints vary with the business cycle. Finally, we find that firms that introduce new product lines, which are likely those with the most interactions with regulatory agencies, have particularly bad perceptions of the business environment. We conclude that changes in firms' perceptions over time may not reflect changes in the business environment. Journal of Comparative Economics 38 (4) (2010) 419-431. Inter-American Development Bank, Labor Markets Unit, 1300 New York Ave. NW, Stop W0616, Washington, DC 20577, United States; Cornerstone Research, 353 Sacramento St, 23rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States.