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Closure within multi-plant firms: evidence from Japan

Author

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  • Richard Kneller
  • Danny McGowan
  • Tomohiko Inui
  • Toshiyuki Matsuura

Abstract

In the literature there is substantial evidence that a plant is more likely to be closed down if it is owned by a firm with other plants or is owned by a multinational enterprise (MNE). But does ownership or multi-plant status matter for which plants are closed? Using Japanese data we study plant closure by multi-plant MNEs and non-MNEs. We show that both organisational forms raise the probability of plant exit and that plants that are relatively small and capital unintensive relative to the rest of the firm are significantly more likely to exit. Copyright Kiel Institute 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Kneller & Danny McGowan & Tomohiko Inui & Toshiyuki Matsuura, 2012. "Closure within multi-plant firms: evidence from Japan," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 148(4), pages 647-668, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:148:y:2012:i:4:p:647-668
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-012-0135-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Keiko Ito & Kenta Ikeuchi, 2017. "Overseas Expansion and Domestic Business Restructuring in Japanese Firms," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 55(2), pages 75-104, June.
    2. Cui, Jingbo & Moschini, GianCarlo, 2020. "Firm internal network, environmental regulation, and plant death," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Naomi Kodama & Tomohiko Inui, 2015. "The Impact of Globalization on Establishment-Level Employment Dynamics in Japan," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 14(2), pages 41-65, Summer.
    4. David W. Meyer & Christopher T. Taylor, 2018. "The Determinants of Plant Exit: the Evolution of the U.S. Refining Industry," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 429-448, December.
    5. Ryo Itoh & Kentaro Nakajima, 2021. "Do sourcing networks make firms global? Microlevel evidence from firm-to-firm transaction networks," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 72(1), pages 65-96, January.
    6. Toshihiro Okubo & Eiichi Tomiura, 2016. "Multi-plant operation and corporate headquarters separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2016-016, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    7. OKUBO Toshihiro & TOMIURA Eiichi, 2016. "Multi-plant Operation and Corporate Headquarters Separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level panel data," Discussion papers 16002, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    8. Okubo, Toshihiro & Tomiura, Eiichi, 2016. "Multi-plant operation and headquarters separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level panel data," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 12-22.
    9. Hyunbae Chun & Jung Hur & Nyeong Seon Son, 2020. "Hollowing Out or Filling In? The Effects of Multinational Enterprises on Domestic Plant Turnover and Job Growth in Factory Asia," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 36, pages 285-317.
    10. CHUN, Hyunbae & HUR, Jung & SON, Nyeong Seon, 2018. "Hollowing Out or Filling In? Impacts of Multinational Enterprises on Domestic Plant Turnover and Job Growth in Factory Asia," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-71, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Plant exit; Multinational firms; Multi-plant firms; D21; D24; F15; F23; L20; L6;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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