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Innovation in business groups

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  • Belenzon, Sharon
  • Berkovitz, Tomer

Abstract

Using novel data on European firms, this paper examines the effect of business group affiliation on innovation. We find that business groups foster the scale and novelty of corporate innovation. Group affiliation is particularly important in industries that rely more on external finance and have a higher degree of information asymmetry. We also find that the innovation of affiliates is less sensitive to operating cash flows. We interpret our results as supporting the ‘bright side’ of business group internal capital markets and explain how legal boundaries between group affiliates mitigate the inefficiencies found in internal capital markets of US conglomerates.

Suggested Citation

  • Belenzon, Sharon & Berkovitz, Tomer, 2007. "Innovation in business groups," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 19661, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:19661
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/19661/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Swati Agrawal & Poonam Singh & Mainak Mazumdar, 2021. "Innovation, Firm Size and Ownership: A Study of Firm Transition in India," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 15-27, June.
    2. Hansen, Thorsten, 2010. "Innovation and the International Firm Structure: Theory and Evidence from German Firm-Level Data," Discussion Papers in Economics 11464, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    3. Mario García Molina, 2010. "Crisis y diversificación de los grupos empresariales colombianos a finales de los noventa," Documentos de Trabajo, Escuela de Economía 7571, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, FCE, CID.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    business groups; innovation; internal capital markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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