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Product Diversification and Profitability in German Manufacturing Firms

Author

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  • Braakmann Nils

    (Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle University, Ridley Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom)

  • Wagner Joachim

    (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Institute of Economics, P.O. Box 2440, 21314 Lueneburg, Germany)

Abstract

We use unique rich data for German manufacturing enterprises to investigate the product diversification - firm performance relationship.We find that an increase in the degree of product diversification has a negative impact on profitability when observed and unobserved firm characteristics are controlled for. The effects are statistically significant and large from an economic point of view. This helps to understand the fact that nearly 40 percent of all enterprises with at least 20 employees are single-product firms according to a detailed classification of products, and that multi-product enterprises with a large number of goods are a rare species.

Suggested Citation

  • Braakmann Nils & Wagner Joachim, 2011. "Product Diversification and Profitability in German Manufacturing Firms," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 231(3), pages 326-335, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:231:y:2011:i:3:p:326-335
    DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2011-0303
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    3. Alexander Vogel & Joachim Wagner, 2016. "Exports and Profitability — First Evidence for German Business Services Enterprises," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 8, pages 279-310, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    Cited by:

    1. Joachim Wagner, 2016. "Exports, Imports and Firm Survival: First Evidence for Manufacturing Enterprises in Germany," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 10, pages 341-367, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Joachim Wagner & John Philipp Weche Gelübcke, 2012. "Foreign Ownership and Firm Survival: First Evidence for Enterprises in Germany," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 132, pages 117-139.
    3. Yang, Yang & Cao, Yang & Yang, Li-Ting (Grace), 2017. "Product diversification and property performance in the urban lodging market: The relationship and its moderators," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 363-375.
    4. Joachim Wagner, 2014. "Is export diversification good for profitability? First evidence for manufacturing enterprises in Germany," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(33), pages 4083-4090, November.

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