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Multi-plant Operation and Corporate Headquarters Separation: Evidence from Japanese plant-level panel data

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  • OKUBO Toshihiro
  • TOMIURA Eiichi

Abstract

This paper attempts to show (i) under what circumstances corporate headquarters (HQs) are separated from production plants and (ii) what type of plants are operated by multi-plant firms. By analyzing Japanese plant-level panel data from manufacturing censuses, we find that large-sized plants or plants intensively purchasing materials significantly tend to be separated from HQs and become a part of multi-plant operations. This suggests a role of managerial capacity. We confirm the robustness of our main findings by the dynamic switching patterns of plant status. Economic geography, such as distance from core, also appears to have impact.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:16002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gokan, Toshitaka & Kichko, Sergey & Thisse, Jacques-François, 2019. "How do trade and communication costs shape the spatial organization of firms?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
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