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The effect of mergers on employment and wages: Evidence from Japan

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  • Kubo, Katsuyuki
  • Saito, Takuji

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of mergers on employment and employees’ wages in Japan, based on 111 mergers between listed firms observed between 1990 and 2003. Typically, the number of employees decreases by 4.45% three years after a merger, even after changes in sales and other variables are controlled. Firms that experience related mergers, and rescue mergers are more likely to decrease the number of workers. At the same time, wages increase by 5.46% per employee. These results suggest that the main motivation behind mergers is not to divest employees of their wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Kubo, Katsuyuki & Saito, Takuji, 2012. "The effect of mergers on employment and wages: Evidence from Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 263-284.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:26:y:2012:i:2:p:263-284
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2011.04.001
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    2. Kenjiro Hirata & Ayako Suzuki & Katsuya Takii, 2016. "Does Managerial Experience in a Target Firm Matter for the Retention of Managers after M&As?," OSIPP Discussion Paper 16E006, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    3. Hiroyuki Taguchi & Taichi Yanagawa & Masashi Harita, 2012. "Impact of M&A on the Employment in Japanese Companies," Public Policy Review, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance Japan, vol. 8(5), pages 581-608, November.
    4. Alex Coad & Masatoshi Kato, 2021. "Growth paths and routes to exit: 'shadow of death' effects for new firms in Japan," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1145-1173, October.
    5. Fukuda, Akira, 2020. "The Effects of M&A on Corporate Performance in Japan:DID Analysis in the Era of Corporate Governance Reform," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. HONJO Yuji & KURIHARA Koki, 2021. "Graduation of Initial Public Offering Firms from Junior Stock Markets: Evidence from the Tokyo Stock Exchange," Discussion papers 21049, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. Kenjiro Hirata & Ayako Suzuki & Katsuya Takii, 2019. "How general is managerial human capital? : Evidence from the Retention of Managers after M&As," OSIPP Discussion Paper 19E010, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    8. Margarita Carvalho & João Cerejeira, 2019. "Mergers and Acquisitions and wage effects in the Portuguese banking sector," NIPE Working Papers 07/2019, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    9. Sumit K. Majumdar & Rabih Moussawi & Ulku Yaylacicegi, 2019. "Mergers and Wages in Digital Networks: a Public Interest Perspective," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 583-615, December.
    10. Takechi, Kazutaka, 2013. "Understanding the productivity effect of M&A in Japan: An empirical analysis of the electronics industry from 1989 to 1998," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 25, pages 1-9.
    11. Masatoshi Kato & Koichiro Onishi & Yuji Honjo, 2022. "Does patenting always help new firm survival? Understanding heterogeneity among exit routes," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 449-475, August.
    12. Hirata Kenjiro & Suzuki Ayako & Takii Katsuya, 2023. "How general is managerial human capital?: Evidence from the Retention of Managers after M&As," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-40, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Merger; Employment adjustment; Wage; Japan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior

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