Payment terms in Portugal: comparative analysis of european terms

A Prof. Dra. Victoria Román Gonzalez publicou na Revista Portuguesa de Marketing um estudo sobre os Prazos de pagamento em Portugal onde faz uma comparação a nível europeu. Registamos neste blog de Economia Internacional o Resumo do seu trabalho.

ABSTRACT: "Considering the payment terms level in Portugal, comparing with other countries, especially European countries, we analyse the payment terms to suppliers, the receiving terms from customers and the difference between both terms in Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Portugal, Holland and Spain.

We conclude from the study that Portugal has long payment terms in the retail trade industry, especially when compared with the terms practised in the North Europe. The same happens with the difference between the small and the big companies.

After the recent approval of legal measures in Spain and France in order to regulate aspects related to the payment terms, we reflect on their extension and contents, so that the elements involved in this conflict (industry, distribution and public authorities) may consider the convenience of the adoption of similar measures in Portugal.

The Spanish legislation has been changed to solve problems, especially problems with the non-fulfilment of the contractual payment terms, while the French law establishes payment maximum terms to suppliers, especially for products with a short lifetime."

in, RPM, ano1, nº 3