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Patterns of Restructuring The US Class 1 Railroads from 1984 to 2004

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  • Guido Friebel
  • Gerard McCullough
  • Laura Padilla Angulo

Abstract

We investigate the restructuring of the US freight railroad industry after its deregulation. An econometric analysis of the joint effects of 'defensive' and 'strategic restructuring' reveals that, unsurprisingly, downsizing of the physical network has affected financial performance positively. Contrary to widely held beliefs, employment reductions by themselves do not explain improved performance, but controlling for interactions of network reductions and labour downsizing with strategic restructuring measures, employment reductions have a strong positive effect. This suggests a positive revision of the Draconian view that the successful restructuring of the US rail industry is mainly the result of workforce reductions. © 2014 LSE and the University of Bath

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  • Guido Friebel & Gerard McCullough & Laura Padilla Angulo, 2014. "Patterns of Restructuring The US Class 1 Railroads from 1984 to 2004," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 48(1), pages 115-135, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpe:jtecpo:v:48:y:2014:i:1:p:115-135
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    Cited by:

    1. Friebel, Guido & Heinz, Matthias & Zubanov, Nick, 2016. "The Effect of Announced Downsizing on Workplace Performance: Evidence from a Retail Chain," IZA Discussion Papers 9739, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Laura Padilla Angulo, 2013. "Labour inputs substitution during corporate restructuring: a translog model approach for US freight railroads," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(18), pages 2547-2562, June.
    3. Guido Friebel & Gerard McCullough & Laura Padilla, 2016. "Product Market Deregulation's Winners and Losers: US Railroads between 1981 and 2001," Working Papers 2016-005, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Department of Economics.
    4. repec:taf:applec:45:y:2013:i:18:p:2547-2562 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Friebel, Guido & Magnac, Thierry, 2007. "Public Servants: a Competitive Advantage for Public Firms?," IDEI Working Papers 495, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI), Toulouse.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation

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