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Don't Downsize This! Social Reactions to Mass Dismissals on Twitter

Author

Listed:
  • Bassanini, Andrea

    (OECD)

  • Caroli, Eve

    (PSL Université Paris Dauphine)

  • Ferreira, Bruno Chaves
  • Rebérioux, Antoine

    (Université de Paris)

Abstract

We study the reactions to job destructions on Twitter. We use information on large-scale job-destruction and job-creation events announced in the United Kingdom over the period 2013-2018. We match it with data collected on Twitter regarding the number and sentiments of the tweets posted around the time of the announcement and involving the company name. We show that job-destruction announcements immediately elicit numerous and strongly negative reactions. On the day of the announcement, the number of tweets and first-level replies sharply increases as does the negativity of the sentiments of the posted tweets. These reactions are systematically more important than reactions to job creations. We also show that they trigger significant losses in the market value of the downsizing firms. Our findings suggest that job destructions generate reputational costs for firms to the extent that they induce a strong negative buzz involving the company name.

Suggested Citation

  • Bassanini, Andrea & Caroli, Eve & Ferreira, Bruno Chaves & Rebérioux, Antoine, 2020. "Don't Downsize This! Social Reactions to Mass Dismissals on Twitter," IZA Discussion Papers 13840, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13840
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    Cited by:

    1. Bassanini, Andrea & Caroli, Eve & Fontaine, François & Rebérioux, Antoine, 2021. "Escaping social pressure: Fixed-term contracts in multi-establishment firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 697-715.
    2. Andrea Bassanini & Eve Caroli & Kevin Geay & Antoine Rebérioux, 2023. "Heavy is the Crown: CEOs' Social Interactions and Layoff Decisions," PSE Working Papers hal-04118212, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job destructions; job creations; adjustment costs; social media; sentiment analysis; cumulative abnormal returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions

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