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Does the Diversification–Firm Performance Relationship Change Over Time? A Meta‐Analytical Review

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  • Monika Schommer
  • Ansgar Richter
  • Amit Karna

Abstract

We study the relationship between diversification and firm performance in the context of the decline in levels of diversification over time. We argue that the pressure to reduce diversification may have more strongly affected those firms whose diversification strategies were most detrimental to firm performance. We employ meta‐analytical regression (MARA) in order to test our hypotheses, using a total of 267 primary studies containing 387 effect sizes based on 150,000 firm‐level observations from over 60 years of research on the diversification–firm performance relationship. The findings suggest that levels of unrelated diversification have decreased, whereas levels of related diversification have increased since the mid‐1990s, following an initial decrease in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, we find that the relationship between unrelated diversification and firm performance has improved significantly over time, whereas the relationship between related diversification and performance has remained relatively stable.

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  • Monika Schommer & Ansgar Richter & Amit Karna, 2019. "Does the Diversification–Firm Performance Relationship Change Over Time? A Meta‐Analytical Review," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 270-298, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:56:y:2019:i:1:p:270-298
    DOI: 10.1111/joms.12393
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    4. Guerras-Martín, Luis Ángel & Ronda-Pupo, Guillermo Armando & Zúñiga-Vicente, José Ángel & Benito-Osorio, Diana, 2020. "Half a century of research on corporate diversification: A new comprehensive framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 124-141.
    5. Ren, Yangqiu & Hu, Guoliu & Wan, Qing, 2024. "Environmental Protection tax and diversified transition of heavily polluting enterprises: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1570-1592.
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    8. Raddant, Matthias & Takahashi, Hiroshi, 2019. "The Japanese corporate board network," Kiel Working Papers 2130, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    9. Lin Yang & Jingyi Yang & Chenjian Zhang & Liangliang Lu, 2023. "CEO narcissism and cross-boundary growth: Evidence from Chinese publicly listed manufacturing firms," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(5), pages 2164-2188, November.
    10. Arte, Pratik & Larimo, Jorma, 2022. "Moderating influence of product diversification on the international diversification-performance relationship: A meta-analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1408-1423.
    11. Christopher R. Penney & James G. Combs, 2020. "A Transaction Cost Perspective of Alliance Portfolio Diversity," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(6), pages 1073-1105, September.
    12. Lin, Boqiang & Wang, Siquan, 2023. "The performance of specialized and oriented diversified firms: A comparative analysis from the targeted expansion of renewable energy business of listed companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    13. Lähteenmäki, Jarno, 2021. "The evolution paths of neutral host businesses: Antecedents, strategies, and business models," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(10).
    14. Lahiri, Somnath & Karna, Amit & Chittaranjan Kalubandi, Sai & Edacherian, Saneesh, 2022. "Performance implications of outsourcing: A meta-analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1303-1316.
    15. Zhang, Zongyi & Fan, Zhenjun, 2024. "Oil price uncertainty and corporate diversification: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 929-947.
    16. Jiajia Liu & Zhenzhen Ge & Yahan Wang, 2024. "Role of environmental, social, and governance rating data in predicting financial risk and risk management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 260-273, January.
    17. Tokbolat, Yerzhan & Le, Hang & Thompson, Steve, 2021. "Corporate diversification, refocusing and shareholder voting," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    18. Zhong, Xi & Ren, Liuyang & Song, Tiebo, 2021. "Different effects of internal and external tournament incentives on corporate financial misconduct: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 329-341.
    19. Ning, Lutao & Guo, Rui, 2022. "Technological Diversification to Green Domains: Technological Relatedness, Invention Impact and Knowledge Integration Capabilities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    20. Ljubownikow, Grigorij & Ang, Siah Hwee, 2020. "Competition, diversification and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 81-94.
    21. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2024. "ESG performance and firms’ business and geographical diversification: An empirical approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    22. Andrés, Pablo de & Fuente, Gabriel de la & Velasco, Pilar, 2021. "Exercising a firm’s growth options: A portfolio approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 571-585.
    23. Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Porto Gómez, Igone & Aguirre Larracoechea, Urko, 2020. "Technological diversification: a matter of related or unrelated varieties?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    24. Fuente, Gabriel de la & Velasco, Pilar, 2020. "Capital structure and corporate diversification: Is debt a panacea for the diversification discount?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    25. Drori, Netanel & Hashai, Niron & Clougherty, Joseph A., 2023. "Fire and ice: The incompatible impact of industry-wide domestic patents and international standards on firm internationalization," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).

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