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State-owned enterprises, competition and product quality

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  • Nabin, Munirul H.
  • Sgro, Pasquale M.
  • Nguyen, Xuan
  • Chao, Chi Chur

Abstract

We consider a general oligopoly model with consumer surplus moderated quantity competition among state-owned enterprises (SOEs), where the SOEs employ workers who are members of the state-owned worker union and produce differentiated products. We show that increasing the number of SOEs would lead to an outcome in which these enterprises choose a lower level of product quality and this, in turn, results in welfare losses for the society, depending on the degree of substitutability. Our findings are consistent with the evidence from China and uncovers important linkages that exist between worker union, product quality and competition, and that have mostly been ignored in the industrial organisation, trade and development literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Nabin, Munirul H. & Sgro, Pasquale M. & Nguyen, Xuan & Chao, Chi Chur, 2016. "State-owned enterprises, competition and product quality," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 200-209.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:43:y:2016:i:c:p:200-209
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2016.02.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Rachel E. Kranton, 2003. "Competition and the Incentive to Produce High Quality," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 70(279), pages 385-404, August.
    4. Jean Tirole, 1988. "The Theory of Industrial Organization," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262200716, December.
    5. Chao, Chi-Chur & Nabin, Munirul & Nguyen, Xuan & Sgro, Pasquale M., 2016. "Wage inequality and welfare in developing countries: Privatization and reforms in the short and long run," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 474-483.
    6. Jiang, Liangliang & Lin, Chen & Lin, Ping, 2014. "The determinants of pollution levels: Firm-level evidence from Chinese manufacturing," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 118-142.
    7. Nabin, Munirul H. & Nguyen, Xuan & Sgro, Pasquale M. & Chao, Chi-Chur, 2014. "Strategic quality competition, mixed oligopoly and privatization," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 142-150.
    8. Nirvikar Singh & Xavier Vives, 1984. "Price and Quantity Competition in a Differentiated Duopoly," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 15(4), pages 546-554, Winter.
    9. Hackner, Jonas, 2000. "A Note on Price and Quantity Competition in Differentiated Oligopolies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 233-239, August.
    10. Carl Shapiro, 1983. "Premiums for High Quality Products as Returns to Reputations," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 98(4), pages 659-679.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Bin & Pan, Ailing & Xu, Lei & Liu, Xin & Qin, Shuqian, 2020. "Imprinting and peer effects in acquiring state ownership: Evidence from private firms in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    2. Fonseka, Mohan & Samarakoon, Lalith P. & Tian, Gao-Liang & Seng, Ratney, 2021. "The impact of social trust and state ownership on investment efficiency of Chinese firms," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Zhao, Nan & Liu, Xiaojie & Zhang, Zizhe, 2022. "Does competition from the informal sector affect firms’ energy intensity? Evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 130-142.

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