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Liquidation value of productive assets and product differentiation

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  • Simone Boccaletti
  • Vittoria Cerasi

Abstract

This study examines the choice of individual companies to adapt productive assets (PAs) to specific production. To soften competition, companies may modify their assets to increase product differentiation. However, this decision alters the liquidation value of the assets in the case of bankruptcy for the presence of redeployment costs (larger for specialized assets) faced by potential buyers. We determine the equilibrium level of specialization of PAs, pointing to a novel trade-off between product market differentiation and the resale value of PAs. We find that industry entry and redeployment costs, together with the number of potential bidders in the second-hand market of PAs are important factors in explaining the degree of product differentiation.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Boccaletti & Vittoria Cerasi, 2021. "Liquidation value of productive assets and product differentiation," Working Papers 483, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised Oct 2021.
    • Handle: RePEc:mib:wpaper:483
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asset Specificity; Horizontal Differentiation; Bankruptcy; Second-hand market of productive assets.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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