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Technology, Information and the Decentralization of the Firm

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Listed:
  • D, Acemoglu

    (Crest)

  • Philippe Aghion

    (Crest)

  • Claire Lelarge

    (Crest)

  • John Van Reenen

    (Crest)

  • Fabrizzio Zilibotti

    (Crest)

Abstract

This paper develops a framework to analyze the relationship between the diffusion ofnew technologies and the decentralization decisions of firms. Centralized controlrelies on the information of the principal, which we equate with publicly availableinformation. Decentralized control, on the other hand, delegates authority to amanager with superior information. However, the manager can use her informationaladvantage to make choices that are not in the best interest of the principal. As theavailable public information about the specific technology increases, the trade-offshifts in favor of centralization. We show that firms closer to the technologicalfrontier, firms in more heterogeneous environments and younger firms are morelikely to choose decentralization. Using three datasets of French and British firms inthe 1990s, we report robust correlations consistent with these predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • D, Acemoglu & Philippe Aghion & Claire Lelarge & John Van Reenen & Fabrizzio Zilibotti, 2006. "Technology, Information and the Decentralization of the Firm," Working Papers 2006-12, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    • Handle: RePEc:crs:wpaper:2006-12
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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