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Are US Companies Too Short-Term Oriented? Some Thoughts

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  • Steven N. Kaplan

Abstract

US companies are often criticized for being overly short-term oriented. This paper documents that those criticisms have a long history, going back at least 35 years. The paper then considers the implications of sustained short-termism for corporate profits, venture capital investments and returns, private equity investments and returns, and corporate valuations. The paper finds little long-term evidence that is consistent with the predictions of the short-term critics.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven N. Kaplan, 2018. "Are US Companies Too Short-Term Oriented? Some Thoughts," Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(1), pages 107-124.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ipolec:doi:10.1086/694409
    DOI: 10.1086/694409
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven N. Kaplan & Antoinette Schoar, 2005. "Private Equity Performance: Returns, Persistence, and Capital Flows," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(4), pages 1791-1823, August.
    2. Robert S. Harris & Tim Jenkinson & Steven N. Kaplan, 2014. "Private Equity Performance: What Do We Know?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(5), pages 1851-1882, October.
    3. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 2004. "New lists: Fundamentals and survival rates," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2), pages 229-269, August.
    4. Sahlman, William A., 1990. "The structure and governance of venture-capital organizations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 473-521, October.
    5. Steven N. Kaplan & Josh Lerner, 2010. "It Ain't Broke: The Past, Present, and Future of Venture Capital," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 22(2), pages 36-47, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Margaret K. Kyle, 2019. "The Alignment of Innovation Policy and Social Welfare: Evidence from Pharmaceuticals," NBER Chapters, in: Innovation Policy and the Economy, Volume 20, pages 95-123, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Ekaterine Gulua, 2020. "Management of Process and Infrastructure in Higher Education Institution," European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 6, January -.
    4. Fos, Vyacheslav & Almeida, Heitor & Ersahin, Nuri & Irani, Rustom M & ,, 2019. "Do Short-Term Incentives Affect Long-Term Productivity?," CEPR Discussion Papers 13894, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Autore, Don M. & Clarke, Nicholas & Liu, Baixiao, 2019. "Activist investors and open market share repurchases," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Drobetz, W. & Momtaz, Paul P., 2020. "Antitakeover Provisions and Firm Value: New Evidence from the M&A Market," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    7. Apergis, Nicholas & Gangopadhyay, Partha, 2020. "The asymmetric relationships between pollution, energy use and oil prices in Vietnam: Some behavioural implications for energy policy-making," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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