SILVES
When the number of non-agricultural business firms is considered, the situation concerning
purchase level in view of the LII is 0.18 and of the ELII is 0.36. In what concerns the
activity sector, Manufacturing Industry, Retail Commerce and Personal Services show a
behaviour similar to the whole of the business firms in view of the LII (very weak).
Separately, no sector has a weak ELII. The remaining sectors reached higher values. The
situation regarding sales level in view of the LII is 0.20 and of the ELII is 0.34. In what
concerns the activity sector, Manufacturing Industry and Banking and Finance show a
behaviour similar to the whole of the business firms (very weak and weak). Construction,
Hotels and Restaurants and Transport and Communications presented lower values in view
of the ELII. As for the rest of the sectors, these registered higher values.
In terms of the bivariate analysis, the variable influencing purchases for the whole of the
business firms is the Organization Type, regarding both Zone (A+B) and Zone (A+B+C).
When one considers Zone (A+B) separately, the Business Firm Type variable still
influences purchases. When one considers the Retail Commerce sector separately, one
concludes that the variables influencing the integration of Zones (A+B+C) are the
Organization Type and the Number of Years at the Residence. The variables influencing
sales for the whole of the business firms are the Business Firm Size, Organization Type,
Business Firm Size and Respondent Origin, regarding both Zone (A+B) and Zone
(A+B+C). The Business Firm Location variable also influences sales when only Zone
(A+B) is taken into consideration. When one considers the Wholesale Commerce sector
separately, only the Respondent’s Origin variable seems to influence local integration for
both Zones. The Business Firm variable also influences sales when only Zone (A+B+C) is
considered. (see tables 12 and 13).
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