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Causes of Subcontracting: Evidence from Panel Data on Construction Firms

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Author Info
Manuel González
Benito Arruñada ()
Alberto Fernández

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Abstract

This paper examines factors explaining subcontracting decisions in the construction industry. Rather than the more common cross-sectional analyses, we use panel data to evaluate the influence of all relevant variables. We design and use a new index of the closeness to small numbers situations to estimate the extent of hold-up problems. Results show that as specificity grows, firms tend to subcontract less. The opposite happens when output heterogeneity and the use of intangible assets and capabilities increase. Neither temporary shortage of capacity nor geographical dispersion of activities seem to affect the extent of subcontracting. Finally, proxies for uncertainty do not show any clear effect.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra in its series Economics Working Papers with number 428.

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Date of creation: Nov 1999
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Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:428

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Related research
Keywords: Intangible assets; monitoring costs; specificity; subcontracting; vertical integration; uncertainty;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
L74 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction - - - Construction

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Hart, Oliver & Moore, John, 1990. "Property Rights and the Nature of the Firm," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(6), pages 1119-58, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  2. Williamson, Oliver E, 1971. "The Vertical Integration of Production: Market Failure Considerations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 61(2), pages 112-23, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Francine Lafontaine & Kathryn L. Shaw, 1999. "The Dynamics of Franchise Contracting: Evidence from Panel Data," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(5), pages 1041-1080, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  4. Kirk Monteverde & David J. Teece, 1982. "Supplier Switching Costs and Vertical Integration in the Automobile Industry," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 13(1), pages 206-213, Spring. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  13. Manuel González & Benito Arruñada & Alberto Fernández, 1997. "La decisión de subcontratar: el caso de las empresas constructoras," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 21(3), pages 501-521, September. [Downloadable!]
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    Other versions:
  16. Gonzalez, Manuel & Arrunada, Benito & Fernandez, Alberto, 1998. "Regulation as a cause of firm fragmentation:the case of the Spanish construction industry," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 433-450, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. H. Peter Møllgaard & Jochen Lorentzen, 2002. "Exclusive Safeguards and Technology Transfer: Subcontracting Agreements in Eastern Europe's Car Component Industry," CIE Discussion Papers 2002-12, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. Centre for Industrial Economics. [Downloadable!]
  2. Erol Taymaz & Yilmaz Kilicaslan, 2001. "Subcontracting dynamics and economic development: A study on textile and engineering industries," ERC Working Papers 0108, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Aug 2001. [Downloadable!]
  3. Joan R. Roses, 2005. "Subcontracting and Vertical Integration in the Spanish Cotton Industry," Working Papers in Economic History wh051302, Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Historia Económica e Instituciones. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Benito Arruñada, 2000. "The Role of Institutions in the Contractual Process," Economics Working Papers 521, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, revised Apr 2003. [Downloadable!]
  5. Møllgaard, H. Peter & Lorentzen, Jochen, 2002. "EXCLUSIVE SAFEGUARDS AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Subcontracting Agreements in Eastern Europe’s Car Component Industry," Working Papers 10-2002, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  6. Chiara Franco & Francesco Rentocchini & Giuseppe Vittucci Marzetti, 2008. "Why do firms invest abroad? An analysis of the motives underlying Foreign Direct Investments," Department of Economics Working Papers 0817, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia. [Downloadable!]
  7. H. Møllgaard & Jochen Lorentzen, 2004. "Exclusive Safeguards and Technology Transfer: Subcontracting Agreements in Eastern Europe's Car Component Industry," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 41-71, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. EROL TAYMAZ & YILMAZ KILIÇASLAN, 2005. "Determinants of subcontracting and regional development: An empirical study on Turkish textile and engineering industries," Regional Studies, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 39(5), pages 633-645, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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