IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finana/v96y2024ipbs1057521924007105.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of digital-oriented mergers and acquisitions on enterprise labor demand

Author

Listed:
  • Liang, Peng
  • Liang, Lin
  • Tang, Xinhui

Abstract

Digital-oriented mergers and acquisitions (DOMA) are increasingly being adopted as strategic options by enterprises during digital transformation. They represent a crucial pathway for enterprises to transition from traditional to digital capabilities and enhance their digital competitiveness. Utilizing data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2020, this study thoroughly examines the relationship between DOMA and corporate labor demand, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Our findings reveal that DOMA positively impacts labor demand. Additionally, DOMA increases the proportion of highly educated and skilled labor forces, thereby amplifying the impact of human capital. Mechanism research further shows that DOMA enhances market synergies, thereby boosting labor demand. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis suggests that the positive effect of DOMA on labor demand is particularly pronounced in enterprises with lower market shares, lower M&A premiums, higher market competition, non-high-tech enterprises and higher financial risk. This paper not only expands the research on DOMA and corporate labor demand, but also provides significant practical implications for generating new labor demand, catalyzing the intelligent transformation of enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang, Peng & Liang, Lin & Tang, Xinhui, 2024. "The impact of digital-oriented mergers and acquisitions on enterprise labor demand," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:96:y:2024:i:pb:s1057521924007105
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103778
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057521924007105
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103778?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhijun Chen & Chongwoo Choe & Jiajia Cong & Noriaki Matsushima, 2022. "Data‐driven mergers and personalization," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(1), pages 3-31, March.
    2. Impullitti, Giammario & Licandro, Omar & Rendahl, Pontus, 2022. "Technology, market structure and the gains from trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. Daron Acemoglu & David Autor & Jonathon Hazell & Pascual Restrepo, 2022. "Artificial Intelligence and Jobs: Evidence from Online Vacancies," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(S1), pages 293-340.
    4. Lee G. Branstetter & Matej Drev & Namho Kwon, 2019. "Get with the Program: Software-Driven Innovation in Traditional Manufacturing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(2), pages 541-558, February.
    5. Brent Neiman, 2014. "The Global Decline of the Labor Share," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 129(1), pages 61-103.
    6. Alexander Bick & Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln, 2018. "Taxation and Labour Supply of Married Couples across Countries: A Macroeconomic Analysis," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(3), pages 1543-1576.
    7. Serguey Braguinsky & Atsushi Ohyama & Tetsuji Okazaki & Chad Syverson, 2015. "Acquisitions, Productivity, and Profitability: Evidence from the Japanese Cotton Spinning Industry," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(7), pages 2086-2119, July.
    8. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/170cd4sul89ddpnfuomvfm0jc0 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Haucap, Justus & Rasch, Alexander & Stiebale, Joel, 2019. "How mergers affect innovation: Theory and evidence," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 283-325.
    10. Stiebale, Joel & Vencappa, Dev, 2018. "Acquisitions, markups, efficiency, and product quality: Evidence from India," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 70-87.
    11. Teece, David J., 2018. "Profiting from innovation in the digital economy: Enabling technologies, standards, and licensing models in the wireless world," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8), pages 1367-1387.
    12. Denicolò, Vincenzo & Polo, Michele, 2018. "Duplicative research, mergers and innovation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 56-59.
    13. Alessandra Bonfiglioli & Rosario Crinò & Harald Fadinger & Gino Gancia, 2024. "Robot Imports and Firm-Level Outcomes," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(664), pages 3428-3444.
    14. Nambisan, Satish & Wright, Mike & Feldman, Maryann, 2019. "The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    15. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(6), pages 2188-2244.
    16. Harrison, Rupert & Jaumandreu, Jordi & Mairesse, Jacques & Peters, Bettina, 2014. "Does innovation stimulate employment? A firm-level analysis using comparable micro-data from four European countries," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 29-43.
    17. Matthew Rhodes‐Kropf & David T. Robinson, 2008. "The Market for Mergers and the Boundaries of the Firm," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 63(3), pages 1169-1211, June.
    18. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1488-1542, June.
    19. Philippe Aghion & Céline Antonin & Simon Bunel & Xavier Jaravel, 2020. "What Are the Labor and Product Market Effects of Automation? New Evidence from France," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03403062, HAL.
    20. Federico, Giulio & Langus, Gregor & Valletti, Tommaso, 2018. "Reprint of: Horizontal mergers and product innovation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 590-612.
    21. Kong, Dongmin & Zhang, Bohui & Zhang, Jian, 2022. "Higher education and corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    22. Masulis, Ronald W. & Zhang, Emma Jincheng, 2019. "How valuable are independent directors? Evidence from external distractions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(3), pages 226-256.
    23. Gautam Ahuja & Riitta Katila, 2001. "Technological acquisitions and the innovation performance of acquiring firms: a longitudinal study," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 197-220, March.
    24. Tang, Haodan & Fang, Senhui & Jiang, Dianchun, 2022. "The market value effect of digital mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    25. Dong, Yizhe & Li, Chang & Li, Haoyu, 2021. "Customer concentration and M&A performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    26. Chenyu Zhang & Ju Mao & Xinshu Mao, 2024. "M&A compensation commitment and stock price crash risk: evidence from China," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 757-787, September.
    27. Xin Wang & Jiacai Xiong & Caiyue Ouyang & Feida Zhang, 2023. "I Feel Your Pain: The Effect of Regulator as a Minority Shareholder on Merger and Acquisition Performance," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(1), pages 437-465, March.
    28. DeCanio, Stephen J., 2016. "Robots and humans – complements or substitutes?," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 280-291.
    29. Sruthi Thatchenkery & Riitta Katila, 2023. "Innovation and profitability following antitrust intervention against a dominant platform: The wild, wild west?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(4), pages 943-976, April.
    30. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/170cd4sul89ddpnfuomvfm0jc0 is not listed on IDEAS
    31. Dou, Bin & Guo, SongLin & Chang, XiaoChen & Wang, Yong, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and labor structure upgrading," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    32. Bennedsen, Morten & Tsoutsoura, Margarita & Wolfenzon, Daniel, 2019. "Drivers of effort: Evidence from employee absenteeism," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(3), pages 658-684.
    33. Mikalef, Patrick & Pateli, Adamantia, 2017. "Information technology-enabled dynamic capabilities and their indirect effect on competitive performance: Findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-16.
    34. Muradoglu, Gulnur & Peng, Ni & Qin, Huai & Xia, Chunling, 2024. "Investor attention and market reactions to early announcements in mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    35. Han, Yue & Yang, Jie & Ying, Limeng & Niu, Yanfang, 2024. "The impact of corporate digital transformation on labor employment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    36. Hoenig, Daniel & Henkel, Joachim, 2015. "Quality signals? The role of patents, alliances, and team experience in venture capital financing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 1049-1064.
    37. David H. Autor, 2015. "Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 29(3), pages 3-30, Summer.
    38. Alhenawi, Yasser & Krishnaswami, Sudha, 2015. "Long-term impact of merger synergies on performance and value," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 93-118.
    39. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    40. Tao, Fang & Liu, Xiaohui & Gao, Lan & Xia, Enjun, 2017. "Do cross-border mergers and acquisitions increase short-term market performance? The case of Chinese firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 189-202.
    41. Chatt, Robert & Gustafson, Matthew & Welker, Adam, 2021. "Firing frictions and the U.S. mergers and acquisitions market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    42. André Hanelt & Sebastian Firk & Björn Hildebrandt & Lutz M. Kolbe, 2021. "Digital M&A, digital innovation, and firm performance: an empirical investigation," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 3-26, January.
    43. Pratim Datta & Yaman Roumani, 2015. "Knowledge-acquisitions and post-acquisition innovation performance: a comparative hazards model," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 202-226, March.
    44. Wang, Sai & Wen, Wen & Niu, Yuhao & Li, Xin, 2024. "Digital transformation and corporate labor investment efficiency," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    45. JuXian Wang & Tianyi Dong & Jinbu Zhai, 2023. "Goodwill Impairment, Loss Avoidance Effects and Subsequent Corporate M&A Decisions," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(2), pages 479-497, January.
    46. Tang, Ning & Xu, Xiaodong & Hsu, Yuan-Teng & Lin, Chih-Yung, 2024. "The impact of ESG distance on mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Qixin & Xiang, Zhiqiang & Xiang, Zhiguo, 2025. "New media supervision, digital transformation, and corporate green investment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Gao, Yang & Liu, Siqiang & Yang, Lu, 2025. "Artificial intelligence and innovation capability: A dynamic capabilities perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Wang, Wei & Cao, QiangYuan & Li, Zhouyang & Zhu, JinYing, 2025. "Digital transformation and corporate environmental performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Li, Fan, 2025. "Pledge of controlling shareholder's equity, digital transformation, and green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    5. Liu, Jintao & Wang, Xiuhai, 2025. "Exploring the driving effect of the digital economy on rural labor force's occupational transformation: Based on analysis of CFPS panel data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Liang, Guibao & Xia, Qiao & Zhang, Lijie, 2025. "Nonlinear influence of digital finance on green economic efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Liu, Dongming & Tu, Yongqian & Chen, Zhangzhang & Zheng, Yinglong, 2025. "Analysis of the synergistic effect of digital financial inclusion and social security on crime governance based on regional differences," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    8. Tang, Mingkun & Jiang, Linshan & Mao, Yanbing & Cao, Lei, 2025. "Does the depth of digital trade rules promote bilateral value chain cooperation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    9. Li, Yun & Qian, Jibing & Zhao, Huisha & Zhu, Mingxin, 2025. "Tourism law, enterprise agglomeration, and labor income," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Zhang, Yujin & Ye, Shujun & Liu, Jie & Zhang, Lulu & Li, Jiayi, 2025. "Can digital transformation of commercial banks reduce green credit risks?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    11. Li, Yunxian & Li, Fen, 2025. "Digital economy, the income gap, and regional crime rates in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    12. Hu, Siyang & Liu, Dongyang, 2025. "Digital economy, financial literacy, and financial risk-taking in rural households," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    13. Li, Xiaoqi & Zhu, Siyi, 2025. "How digital transformation can affect corporate technology innovation: The role of income gap," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    14. Van, Huong Vu & Kim, Cuong Ly, 2025. "Does increased digital transformation decrease corporate cash holdings? The moderating role of business environment quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    15. Jie, Honglan & Gooi, Leong Mow & Lou, Yanchun, 2025. "Digital maturity, dynamic capabilities and innovation performance in high-tech SMEs," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    16. Li, Yuantian & Xu, Haoyu & Li, Huiru & Xu, Yingming, 2025. "Digital economy, environmental regulations, and green economic development," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    17. Zhang, Li & Song, Xinwei, 2025. "Managerial overconfidence and corporate digital transformation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    18. Li, Haibo & Xiao, Biyun, 2025. "Strengthening provincial export resilience through the digital economy: Analysis of impacts, global value chain integration, and regional disparities in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    19. Chen, Keren & Zhao, Shenghan & Jiang, Gaozhe & He, Yafeng & Li, Hui, 2025. "The green innovation effect of the digital economy," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    20. Liu, Yuanyuan & Liu, Qianqian & Wei, Yanqiu, 2025. "Digital finance, internal control, and audit quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    21. Xing, Manjiang & Gong, Chi & Moon, Gyu-Hyen & Ge, Xiaohong, 2025. "Digital economy, dual innovation capability and enterprise labor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    22. Ma, Fengling & Xiang, Yong & Wei, Yao, 2025. "Labor protection and enterprise diversification: Insights from a natural experiment based on the 'Social Insurance Law'," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    23. Ding, Qiaoying & He, Wensheng & Deng, Yanfang, 2025. "Can tax reduction incentive policy promote corporate digital and intelligent transformation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tang, Haodan & Fang, Senhui & Jiang, Dianchun, 2022. "The market value effect of digital mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Tang, Haodan & Liang, Jiaxuan & Fang, Senhui, 2024. "The innovation effect of digital M&As: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    3. Borsato, Andrea & Lorentz, André, 2023. "The Kaldor–Verdoorn law at the age of robots and AI," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(10).
    4. Camiña, Ester & Díaz-Chao, Ángel & Torrent-Sellens, Joan, 2020. "Automation technologies: Long-term effects for Spanish industrial firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    5. Gao, Jie & Li, Zhizhuo & Nguyen, Thithuha & Zhang, Wentao, 2025. "Digital transformation and enterprise employment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    6. Qiao, Xiaole & He, Yang & Du, Qiang, 2025. "How does the urban digital economy drive labor allocation in China?—A perspective of factor mobility between digital and non-digital enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1159-1175.
    7. Davide Dottori, 2021. "Robots and employment: evidence from Italy," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 38(2), pages 739-795, July.
    8. Gregory, Terry & Salomons, Anna & Zierahn, Ulrich, 2016. "Racing With or Against the Machine? Evidence from Europe," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145843, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Gathmann, Christina & Kagerl, Christian & Pohlan, Laura & Roth, Duncan, 2024. "The pandemic push: Digital technologies and workforce adjustments," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    10. Chen, Chinchih & Frey, Carl Benedikt & Presidente, Giorgio, 2022. "Automation or globalization? The impacts of robots and Chinese imports on jobs in the United Kingdom," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 528-542.
    11. Hideki Nakamura & Joseph Zeira, 2024. "Automation and unemployment: help is on the way," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 215-250, June.
    12. Jasmine Mondolo, 2022. "The composite link between technological change and employment: A survey of the literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1027-1068, September.
    13. Ghodsi, Mahdi & Stehrer, Robert & Barišić, Antea, 2024. "Assessing the impact of new technologies on wages and labour income shares," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    14. Xiaoxu Zhang & Yu Song & Hongyu Liu, 2023. "Too Much of a Good Thing? The Impact of Serial M&A on Innovation Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, June.
    15. Baek, Seungjin & Jeong, Deokjae, 2023. "Factors Influencing Labor Share: Automation, Task Innovation, and Elasticity of Substitution," MPRA Paper 118730, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Gan, Jiawu & Liu, Lihua & Qiao, Gang & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    17. Tianru Qin & Lin Liang & Peng Liang & Wenqun Liang, 2025. "Can industrial robot utilization drive the total factor productivity of enterprises?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(1), pages 129-148, January.
    18. Michele Fornino & Andrea Manera, 2022. "Automation and the Future of Work: Assessing the Role of Labor Flexibility," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 45, pages 282-321, July.
    19. Peng Liang & Xinhui Sun & Luzhuang Qi, 2024. "Does artificial intelligence technology enhance green transformation of enterprises: based on green innovation perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21651-21687, August.
    20. Consolo, Agostino & Cette, Gilbert & Bergeaud, Antonin & Labhard, Vincent & Osbat, Chiara & Kosekova, Stanimira & Anyfantaki, Sofia & Basso, Gaetano & Basso, Henrique & Bobeica, Elena & Ciapanna, Eman, 2021. "Digitalisation: channels, impacts and implications for monetary policy in the euro area," Occasional Paper Series 266, European Central Bank.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:96:y:2024:i:pb:s1057521924007105. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620166 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.