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The Short-Term Impact of Product Market Reforms: A cross-country firm-level analysis

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  • Peter N. Gal
  • Alexander Hijzen

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of product market reforms in the short and medium term across 10 regulated industries and 18 advanced economies for the period 1998-2013 using internationally comparable firm-level data based on Orbis. It provides four key insights. First, product market reforms have positive effects on capital, output and employment and their effects increase over time. After two years, they raise capital by 4%, output by 3% and employment by 1.5%. Second, differences in production technology and the nature of product market regulations across sectors generate important differences in the mechanisms through which reforms operate. In network industries, reforms tend to benefit small firms, while the opposite is observed in retail trade. Product market reforms also promote firm entry, particularly those that reduce entry barriers. Third, credit constraints can play an important role in weakening the positive impact of product market reform on investment. Fourth, product market reforms also tend to have positive effects on firms in downstream sectors—both at home and abroad—that make intensive use of intermediate inputs from deregulated sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter N. Gal & Alexander Hijzen, 2016. "The Short-Term Impact of Product Market Reforms: A cross-country firm-level analysis," IMF Working Papers 2016/116, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2016/116
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WP; product market reform; product market regulation; firm exit; D04; D22; L43; L51; L8; L9; network industry; company account; product market deregulation; downstream firm; country-industry dummy; Commodity markets; Employment; Credit; Credit aggregates; Trade in services; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • L43 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Legal Monopolies and Regulation or Deregulation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
    • L9 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities

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