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Business Culture: The Role of Personal and Impersonal Business Relationships on Market Efficiency

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  • Munoz-Herrera, Manuel

    (New York University, Abu Dhabi)

  • Reuben, Ernesto

    (New York University, Abu Dhabi)

Abstract

In this paper, we study the effects of business culture on market efficiency. We exogenously vary the type of business culture between business-is-business cultures, which consist on impersonal relationships where financial matters are paramount, and business-is-family cultures, which comprise of cohesive personal relationships where financial matters and personal attachments are intertwined. We use a laboratory experiment to assess the effect of business cultures in environments with different degrees of contract enforceability and competition. Our main results indicate that business-is-family cultures are more effective when contracts are unverifiable because they help market participants overcome problems of trust. On the other hand, we find that business-is-business cultures are more effective in competitive settings because they facilitate the severance of ties with unproductive partners.

Suggested Citation

  • Munoz-Herrera, Manuel & Reuben, Ernesto, 2019. "Business Culture: The Role of Personal and Impersonal Business Relationships on Market Efficiency," IZA Discussion Papers 12398, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12398
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trust; contracts; competition; business culture; communication; social ties;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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