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The new empirical economics of management

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  • Van Reenen, John
  • Bloom, Nicholas
  • Sadun, Raffaella
  • Lemos, Renata
  • Scur, Daniela

Abstract

Over the last decade the World Management Survey (WMS) has collected firm-level management practices data across multiple sectors and countries. We developed the survey to try to explain the large and persistent TFP differences across firms and countries. This review paper discusses what has been learned empirically and theoretically from the WMS and other recent work on management practices. Our preliminary results suggest that about a quarter of cross-country and within-country TFP gaps can be accounted for by management practices. Management seems to matter both qualitatively and quantitatively. Competition, governance, human capital and informational frictions help account for the variation in management.

Suggested Citation

  • Van Reenen, John & Bloom, Nicholas & Sadun, Raffaella & Lemos, Renata & Scur, Daniela, 2014. "The new empirical economics of management," CEPR Discussion Papers 10013, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:10013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Management; Organization; Productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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