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International trade and the allocation of capital within firms

Author

Listed:
  • Doerr, S.
  • Marin, D.
  • Suverato, D.
  • Verdier, T.

Abstract

This paper introduces an internal capital market into a two-factor model of multi-segment firms. It features empire building by managers and informational frictions within the organization. The headquarters knows less about a segment’s true cost than its divisional managers do, so managers can over-report their costs and receive more capital than optimal. Our novel theory, which enables us to endogenize the cost structure of multi-segment firms, shows that international trade imposes discipline on divisional managers and improves the capital allocation between divisions, thereby lowering the conglomerate discount. The theory can explain why exporters exhibit a lower conglomerate discount than non-exporters. We exploit the China shock as an exogenous change to competition to confirm the model’s predictions with data on US companies.

Suggested Citation

  • Doerr, S. & Marin, D. & Suverato, D. & Verdier, T., 2025. "International trade and the allocation of capital within firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:153:y:2025:i:c:s0022199624001508
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104023
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multi-product firms; Trade and organization; Internal capital markets; Conglomerate discount; China shock;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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