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Size-Dependent Regulations, Firm Size Distribution, and Reallocation

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Roys

    (University of Wisconsin - Madison)

  • Francois Gourio

    (Boston University)

Abstract

In France, firms with 50 employees or more face substantially more regulation than firms with less than 50. As a result, the size distribution of firms is visibly distorted: there are many firms with exactly 49 employees. We model the regulation as a sunk cost that must be paid the first time the firm reaches 50 employees, and we estimate the model using indirect inference by fitting these salient features of the size distribution. The key finding is that the legislation acts like a sunk cost equivalent to approximately one year of an average employee salary. Removing the regulation improves labor allocation across firms, leading to a productivity gain of around 0.3%, holding the number of firms fixed. However, if firm entry is elastic, the steady-state gains are significantly smaller.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Roys & Francois Gourio, 2013. "Size-Dependent Regulations, Firm Size Distribution, and Reallocation," 2013 Meeting Papers 199, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed013:199
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    JEL classification:

    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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