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Industry competition and firm productivity: Evidence from the antitrust policy in China

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  • Kong, Xiangyi
  • Xu, Jian
  • Zhang, Yinge

Abstract

This study examines impacts of increased industry competition on firms’ productivity. We use the enacting of China's antitrust policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and find that the total factor productivity of firm with larger market power has a significant increase after the enacting of the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law. The possible channels behind the effects are that the rising competition pressures, brought by the enacted antitrust policy, induce firms to increase their investment efficiency and innovation output. Our findings are more pronounced to firms in cities with lower regional marketization, firms under industries with less competition, and non-financial constrained firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Kong, Xiangyi & Xu, Jian & Zhang, Yinge, 2022. "Industry competition and firm productivity: Evidence from the antitrust policy in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:47:y:2022:i:pb:s1544612322002434
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103001
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    5. Zhang, Zili & Wang, Zeyu & Si, Yanwu & Li, Tianyang, 2023. "Administrative monopoly regulation and corporate tax avoidance - evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
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    7. Xin Li & Qiong Xu & Fei Guo & Hecheng Wang, 2023. "State‐owned equity participation and private sector enterprises' strategic risk taking: Evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 1107-1124, March.
    8. Sang Jun Cho & Chune Young Chung & Daniel Sungyeon Kim, 2023. "Do antitrust laws erode shareholder returns? Evidence from the Chinese market," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 349-376, April.

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