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The Value of Employee Retention: Evidence From a Natural Experiment

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  • Kenneth A. Younge
  • Matt Marx

Abstract

We estimate the firm‐level returns to retaining employees using difference‐in‐differences analysis and a natural experiment where the enforcement of employee noncompete agreements was inadvertently reversed in Michigan. We find that noncompete enforcement boosted the short‐term value of publicly traded companies by approximately 9%. The effect is increasing in local competition and growth opportunities, and offset by patenting.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth A. Younge & Matt Marx, 2016. "The Value of Employee Retention: Evidence From a Natural Experiment," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 652-677, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:25:y:2016:i:3:p:652-677
    DOI: 10.1111/jems.12154
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    Cited by:

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    2. Simeth, Markus & Mohammadi, Ali, 2022. "Losing talent by partnering up? The impact of R&D collaboration on employee mobility," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    3. Evan Starr, 2019. "Consider This: Training, Wages, and the Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 72(4), pages 783-817, August.
    4. Lauren E. Aydinliyim, 2022. "The Case for Ethical Non-compete Agreements: Executives Versus Sandwich-Makers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 651-668, January.
    5. Isabelle Solal & Kaisa Snellman, 2019. "Women Don’t Mean Business? Gender Penalty in Board Composition," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(6), pages 1270-1288, November.
    6. Koray Sayili, 2020. "Retaining skilled employees: A human capital model with innovation and entrepreneurship," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(6), pages 911-923, September.
    7. Qiu, Buhui & Wang, Teng, 2018. "Does Knowledge Protection Benefit Shareholders? Evidence from Stock Market Reaction and Firm Investment in Knowledge Assets," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(3), pages 1341-1370, June.
    8. Jinji, Naoto & Zhang, Xingyuan & Haruna, Shoji, 2019. "Does a firm with higher Tobin’s q prefer foreign direct investment to foreign outsourcing?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).

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