Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/18045 
Year of Publication: 
2002
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 309
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
Using firm-level panel data from the German cost structure survey over the period 1992 to 2000, our empirical analysis shows that firms that increased material inputs relative to internal labor costs performed better in terms of gross operating surplus than other firms. However, firms that increased external services relative to internal labor costs, thus outsourcing service functions previously provided within the firm, performed worse. In sum, our findings support the view that firms tend to overestimate the benefits accruing from outsourcing of services previously provided internally.
Subjects: 
Outsourcing
Firm Performance
Business Service Sector
JEL: 
L60
L23
L22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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