This study aims to examine the long-held debate on whether firms doing good can do well but, in this context of a crisis such as a pandemic. We specifically look at the survival of inclusive business or IB or those that has the deliberate intention to create positive spillover for the poor while maximizing profits. However, critics caution on the potential risks and pitfalls. Using survival analysis of a panel survey data of 677 micro, small, and medium enterprises, inclusive sellers or IB sellers were investigated on their necessary factors for survival where the event variable is measured in terms of changes in their performance. Extant studies point to technological innovation, among other factors, as key driver in firm survival and thus will be specifically tested. This study answers the main research question: Are firms that are more inclusive, specifically those that engage in technological innovation, more likely to survive the pandemic?
One of the key findings show that indeed, IB sellers have lower survival duration compared to non-IB. However, while there is not enough evidence to support that IB sellers in the Philippines are less likely to survive the pandemic, our findings show that those located in the 2 out of 6 provinces, namely Cavite and Rizal, are indeed significantly less likely to survive the pandemic. Combination of results show that, contrary to earlier studies on firm survival, technological innovation alone is not enough for firms to survive, whether IB or non-IB as we have noted an inverted U-shape trend when considering interaction effects.