Ordinamenti dimensionali d’imprese attraverso metodologie multiple classifier systems (MCS)

Firm ranking by size using multiple classifier systems (MCS) techniques, by Daniele Porcheddu, Gianfranco Atzeni, Manuele Bicego Firm size is a topic often studied in the economic theory and business economics, both under a normative and positive perspective. In this work we apply the multiple classifier systems (MCS) approach in order to extract univocal information from five indicators of firm size. Starting from various firm ordering obtained by using a single dimensional variable, we get a ‘consensus’ firm ordering. The empirical exercise is carried out on the Capitalia Survey of Manufacturing Firms employing Highest Rank and Borda Count methods. We show that total assets is the most suitable variable to summarise the information obtained from other measures, such as employment, sales and value added. We also show that the relative sectorial position of the firm based on its dimension is maintained shifting from the sector to the inter-sector level. These empirical properties make this methodology more suitable for firm comparisons at various level, such as antitrust surveys on dominant position. JEL classification: C43; M21 Keywords: Firms’ size ranking; Multiple classifier systems; Borda Count method; Highest Rank method