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How does government intervention affect the formation of zombie firms?

Author

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  • Chang, Qingqing
  • Zhou, Yisihong
  • Liu, Guangqiang
  • Wang, Di
  • Zhang, Xiaojie

Abstract

Zombie firms cause serious, widespread harm to the economy. It is thus important to clarify the reasons for their formation. This paper empirically investigates the effects of government intervention on the formation of zombie firms. It suggests that a greater degree of government intervention can increase the risk that a firm will become a zombie firm. Robustness tests and endogeneity tests confirm this finding. Further, we undertake a preliminary exploration of the mechanism of government intervention on the formation of zombie firms, and study how government behaviors affect the formation of such firms from various perspectives. Analysis reveals that government induces the formation of zombie firms by means of subsidies, resource support, financial support, and tax. To a certain extent, the conclusions of this paper could guide the formulation and revision of government policies, which would be conducive to adjusting the direction and intensity of government intervention and providing new ideas for supply-side structural reforms in China. The Chinese government should further increase the role of market force in its reforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang, Qingqing & Zhou, Yisihong & Liu, Guangqiang & Wang, Di & Zhang, Xiaojie, 2021. "How does government intervention affect the formation of zombie firms?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 768-779.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:94:y:2021:i:c:p:768-779
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2020.02.017
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiang, Yitian & Cui, Haotian & Bi, Yunxiao, 2023. "The impact and channel effects of banking competition and government intervention on carbon emissions: Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    2. Linlin Fan & Tingfeng Tang & Gongyan Yang, 2023. "Administrative reform and the disposal of zombie enterprises: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1845-1869, December.
    3. Deng Ming & Wang Jinbo, 2022. "Why do zombie firms seldom die or resurrect? The effect of government subsidies on the survival duration of China’s zombie firms," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 212-228, January.
    4. Ji, Mianmian & Lv, Wendai, 2022. "Demonstration zones reform and corporate philanthropy: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    5. Jiani Li & Jie Li & Tianhang Zhou, 2023. "State ownership and zombie firms: Evidence from China's 2008 stimulus plan," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 853-876, October.
    6. Qiao, Lu & Fei, Junjun, 2022. "Government subsidies, enterprise operating efficiency, and “stiff but deathless” zombie firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    7. Evans Opoku‐Mensah & Yuming Yin & Sandra Chukwudumebi Obiora & Peter Adjei Darko, 2022. "Grabbing hand or helping hand? Ownership interventions and acquirers returns; the role of provincial idiosyncrasies," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 4797-4815, October.
    8. Wu, Qingyang & Chang, Siqi & Bai, Caiquan & Wei, Wendong, 2023. "How do zombie enterprises hinder climate change action plans in China?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    9. Tian, Yanping & Song, Wenjing & Liu, Min, 2021. "Assessment of how environmental policy affects urban innovation: Evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot cities program," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 41-56.
    10. Zhang, Xiaoqian & Huang, Bin, 2022. "Does bank competition inhibit the formation of zombie firms?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1045-1060.
    11. Xie, Dongshui & Bai, Caiquan & Zhang, Yuwei, 2023. "Relation-based governance, financial crisis shock, and economic growth in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    12. Rongyun Zhou & Qian Zhang, 2024. "The Impact of Industrial Robots on the Sustainable Development of Zombie Firms in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, March.
    13. Shangming Yang & Yanjiang Zhang & Jinyuan Zhang & Bochao Zhang, 2024. "Technology accessibility and the local government's incentive to aid zombie firms in China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 501-523, April.
    14. Lu, Hongyou & Liu, Min & Song, Wenjing, 2022. "Place-based policies, government intervention, and regional innovation: Evidence from China's Resource-Exhausted City program," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    15. Brahma, Sanjukta & Zhang, Jing & Boateng, Agyenim & Nwafor, Chioma, 2023. "Political connection and M&A performance: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 372-389.
    16. Geng, Yong & Liu, Wei & Wu, Yuzhao, 2021. "How do zombie firms affect China’s industrial upgrading?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 79-94.
    17. Mattsson, Pontus & Reshid, Abdulaziz, 2023. "Productivity divergence and the role of digitalisation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 942-966.
    18. Ren, Meixu & Zhao, Jinxuan & Zhao, Jingmei, 2023. "Why is it difficult for Chinese companies to operate across regions in China?—Evidence from zombie companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    19. Feng, Ling & Lang, Henan & Pei, Tingting, 2022. "Zombie firms and corporate savings: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 551-564.

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