IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i23p10407-d1531231.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Market Power on Capital Misallocation: A Total Factor Productivity Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Yuhao Lu

    (Sunwah International Business School, Faculty of Economics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110000, China)

  • Shulin Wang

    (Sunwah International Business School, Faculty of Economics, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110000, China)

  • Sudarshan Pillalamarri

    (Business and Law, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK)

Abstract

The proper allocation of corporate capital is critical to sustainable business development, and misallocation of resources can impede sustainable economic growth and competitive markets. This study investigates the relationship between market power and capital misallocation in Chinese A-share listed companies, with a novel focus on the mediating role of total factor productivity (TFP). Using a comprehensive dataset of 20,818 firm-year observations from 2009 to 2021, we employ linear regression analysis to elucidate the mechanisms through which market power influences capital allocation efficiency. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between market power and capital misallocation, with TFP partially mediating this relationship. Specifically, a one-unit increase in the market power index is associated with a 1.106 unit decrease in TFP, and a 0.028 unit increase in the capital misallocation, indicating potential threats to long-term sustainability. This effect is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, firms located in eastern regions, and those without shareholdings in financial institutions. These results contribute to the literature on market structure and resource allocation by providing empirical evidence of the detrimental effects of market power on capital allocation efficiency, operating through the channel of reduced productivity. Our findings have important implications for policymakers and firm managers, suggesting the need for targeted antitrust measures, promotion of market competition, and strategies to enhance TFP. This research advances our understanding of the complex interplay between market power, productivity, and capital allocation in emerging economies, offering valuable insights for addressing market failures, improving allocative efficiency and actively promoting sustainable business and sustainable socio-economic development in the Chinese context.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuhao Lu & Shulin Wang & Sudarshan Pillalamarri, 2024. "The Impact of Market Power on Capital Misallocation: A Total Factor Productivity Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10407-:d:1531231
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10407/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10407/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gita Gopinath & Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan & Loukas Karabarbounis & Carolina Villegas-Sanchez, 2017. "Capital Allocation and Productivity in South Europe," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 132(4), pages 1915-1967.
    2. Jagjit S. Chadha & Issam Samiri, 2022. "Macroeconomic Perspectives on Productivity," Working Papers 030, The Productivity Institute.
    3. Bruce A. Blonigen & Justin R. Pierce, 2016. "Evidence for the Effects of Mergers on Market Power and Efficiency," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2016-082, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    4. Bas Louman & Erica Di Girolami & Seth Shames & Luis Gomes Primo & Vincent Gitz & Sara J. Scherr & Alexandre Meybeck & Michael Brady, 2022. "Access to Landscape Finance for Small-Scale Producers and Local Communities: A Literature Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Yermack, David, 1996. "Higher market valuation of companies with a small board of directors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 185-211, February.
    6. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Core, John E. & Guay, Wayne R., 2014. "Do independent directors cause improvements in firm transparency?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(3), pages 383-403.
    7. Chang-Tai Hsieh & Peter J. Klenow, 2009. "Misallocation and Manufacturing TFP in China and India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(4), pages 1403-1448.
    8. Simon Mongey & Jan De Loecker & Jan Eeckhout, 2021. "Quantifying Market Power and Business Dynamism in the Macroeconomy," Working Papers 1251, Barcelona School of Economics.
    9. Nicholas, Tom, 2003. "Why Schumpeter was Right: Innovation, Market Power, and Creative Destruction in 1920s America," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 63(4), pages 1023-1058, December.
    10. Kutlu, Levent & Sickles, Robin C., 2012. "Estimation of market power in the presence of firm level inefficiencies," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 168(1), pages 141-155.
    11. Philippe Aghion & Nick Bloom & Richard Blundell & Rachel Griffith & Peter Howitt, 2005. "Competition and Innovation: an Inverted-U Relationship," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(2), pages 701-728.
    12. Singh, Manohar & Davidson III, Wallace N., 2003. "Agency costs, ownership structure and corporate governance mechanisms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 793-816, May.
    13. Xiaohua Sun & Fang Yuan & Yun Wang, 2021. "Market power and R&D investment: the case of China [Competition and innovation: an inverted-U relationship]," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(6), pages 1499-1515.
    14. Joel Peress, 2010. "Product Market Competition, Insider Trading, and Stock Market Efficiency," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(1), pages 1-43, February.
    15. Virgiliu Midrigan & Daniel Yi Xu, 2014. "Finance and Misallocation: Evidence from Plant-Level Data," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(2), pages 422-458, February.
    16. Nickell, Stephen J, 1996. "Competition and Corporate Performance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 104(4), pages 724-746, August.
    17. Ding, Sai & Jiang, Wei & Li, Shengyu & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2024. "Fiscal policy volatility and capital misallocation: Evidence from China," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    18. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein & Raul Ruubel, 2018. "The contributions of human capital, R&D spending and convergence to total factor productivity growth," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(12), pages 1598-1611, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Liliana Varela, 2018. "Reallocation, Competition, and Productivity: Evidence from a Financial Liberalization Episode," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(2), pages 1279-1313.
    2. Xiaoyang Zhu, 2023. "Financial development and declining market dynamics: Another dark side of “too much finance”?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(1), pages 275-309, July.
    3. Lin, Ling & Xiao, Min & Yao, Rongrong & Zhang, Xiaoying, 2024. "Product market liberalization and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Graziella Bonanno & Annalisa Ferrando & Stefania Patrizia Sonia Rossi, 2023. "Do innovation and financial constraints affect the profit efficiency of European enterprises?," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(1), pages 57-86, March.
    5. Liliana Varela, 2018. "Reallocation, Competition, and Productivity: Evidence from a Financial Liberalization Episode," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 85(2), pages 1279-1313.
    6. Joel M. David & Venky Venkateswaran, 2019. "The Sources of Capital Misallocation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(7), pages 2531-2567, July.
    7. Alam, M. Jahangir, 2020. "Capital misallocation: Cyclicality and sources," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    8. Daniel A. Dias & Carlos Robalo Marques & Christine Richmond, 2020. "A Tale of Two Sectors: Why is Misallocation Higher in Services than in Manufacturing?," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 66(2), pages 361-393, June.
    9. Aghion, Philippe & Akcigit, Ufuk & Howitt, Peter, 2014. "What Do We Learn From Schumpeterian Growth Theory?," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 515-563, Elsevier.
    10. Nicholas Bloom & Raffaella Sadun, 2012. "The Organization of Firms Across Countries," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 127(4), pages 1663-1705.
    11. Fabiano Schivardi & Enrico Sette & Guido Tabellini, 2022. "Credit Misallocation During the European Financial Crisis," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 391-423.
    12. Viral V. Acharya & Matteo Crosignani & Tim Eisert & Christian Eufinger, 2024. "Zombie Credit and (Dis‐)Inflation: Evidence from Europe," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 79(3), pages 1883-1929, June.
    13. Çağatay Bircan & Orkun Saka, 2021. "Lending Cycles and Real Outcomes: Costs of Political Misalignment," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(639), pages 2763-2796.
    14. Clement Imbert & Marlon Seror & Yifan Zhang & Yanos Zylberberg, 2022. "Migrants and Firms: Evidence from China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(6), pages 1885-1914, June.
    15. Diego Restuccia & Richard Rogerson, 2017. "The Causes and Costs of Misallocation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 31(3), pages 151-174, Summer.
    16. Felipe Meza & Sangeeta Pratap & Carlos Urrutia, 2019. "Credit, Misallocation and Productivity: A Disaggregated Analysis," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 34, pages 61-86, October.
    17. Thibault Libert, 2017. "Misallocation Before, During and After the Great Recession," Working papers 658, Banque de France.
    18. Nirupama Kulkarni & S.K. Ritadhi & Sayan Mukherjee, 2021. "Unearthing Zombies," Working Papers 59, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    19. Emmanuel Dhyne & Ayumu Ken Kikkawa & Glenn Magerman, 2022. "Imperfect Competition in Firm-to-Firm Trade," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 20(5), pages 1933-1970.
    20. Gondhi, Naveen, 2023. "Rational inattention, misallocation, and the aggregate economy," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 50-75.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10407-:d:1531231. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.