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Government intervention and firm investment: Evidence from international micro-data

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  • Lin, Chen
  • Man-lai Wong, Sonia

Abstract

Building on the important study by Beck et al. (2005), we examine how government intervention in firms' decision-making is related to their investment and sales growth. Using the unique World Bank dataset (WBES) covering 6500 firms in 70 countries, we find strong evidence that the extent of government intervention in firms' investment, employment, sales, pricing, dividend, and merger and acquisition decisions is negatively related to their investment and sales growth, with the effect being more profound in foreign owned firms and less significant in state-owned firms. The empirical results are robust to a series of robustness tests and instrumental variable regressions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Chen & Man-lai Wong, Sonia, 2013. "Government intervention and firm investment: Evidence from international micro-data," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 637-653.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:32:y:2013:i:c:p:637-653
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2012.06.002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm investment; Government intervention; International evidence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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