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Collective bargaining and mergers and acquisitions activity around the world

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  • Ahmad, Muhammad Farooq
  • Lambert, Thomas

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between collective bargaining and mergers and acquisitions activity in 46 countries from the early 1990s. We find that the frequency and volume of mergers and acquisitions within industries increase in countries with powerful labor unions and high coverage of bargaining coordination. Economically, collective bargaining mitigates the negative effect of tighter employment protection legislations on mergers and acquisitions documented in prior works. Further analyses suggest that collective bargaining encourages mergers and acquisitions by reducing employment uncertainty among target firm employees. Our results provide new insights into the real effects of collective bargaining in the context of mergers and acquisitions around the world.

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  • Ahmad, Muhammad Farooq & Lambert, Thomas, 2019. "Collective bargaining and mergers and acquisitions activity around the world," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 21-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:99:y:2019:i:c:p:21-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.11.010
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Collective bargaining; Employment protection legislations; Labor unions; Mergers and acquisitions; Synergy gains; Deal completion process;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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