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Product market competition and corporate investment decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Indrarini Laksmana
  • Ya-wen Yang

Abstract

Purpose - – The study aims to examine the association between product market competition and corporate investment decisions on, particularly, risk-taking and investment efficiency. Existing theoretical studies on whether product market competition mitigates or exacerbates agency problems are inconclusive. Prior research generally finds that competition constrains management opportunism in reporting operating performance. However, the association between product market competition and managerial investment decisions has largely been unexplored. Design/methodology/approach - – The primary measure of product market competition is the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index. The authors use regression analysis to examine the association between corporate risk-taking and over-investment of free cash flow (FCF) (as dependent variables) and product market competition (as an independent variable). Findings - – Using firm-year observations from 1990 to 2010, the authors find that competition encourages managers to invest in risky investment. They also find that competition disciplines management on its use of FCFs. Overall, their results provide support for the disciplining role of product market competition in management investment decisions. The results are robust after they control for shareholder activism and executive compensations. Originality/value - – The paper contributes to the literature by providing evidence of the disciplining role of product market competition in management investment decisions. First, the results suggest that competition encourages managers to invest in risky investment. One potential explanation for the results is that competition reduces opportunities for resource diversion for management personal benefits and, in turn, decreases management risk aversion. Another explanation is that competition forces management to take more risks for the long-term survival of the company. Second, the results indicate that competition disciplines management on its use of FCFs. Although firms in highly competitive industries make investment decisions that are less conservative, they tend to avoid suboptimal investment decisions, such as over-investment of FCF, compared to their counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Indrarini Laksmana & Ya-wen Yang, 2015. "Product market competition and corporate investment decisions," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(2), pages 128-148, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:rafpps:v:14:y:2015:i:2:p:128-148
    DOI: 10.1108/RAF-11-2013-0123
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zaheer Anwer & Shamsher Mohamad & Wajahat Azmi & Akram Shavkatovich Hasanov, 2022. "Product market fluidity and religious constraints: evidence from the US market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1761-1817, April.
    2. Liguang Zhang & Wanyi Chen & Liao Peng, 2023. "The impact of tax enforcement on corporate investment efficiency: evidence from the tax administration information system," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 1635-1669, June.
    3. Sultan Sikandar Mirza & Muhammad Ansar Majeed & Tanveer Ahsan, 2020. "Board gender diversity, competitive pressure and investment efficiency in Chinese private firms," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(3), pages 417-440, September.
    4. Yu, Zhuangxiong & Zhang, Jie & Li, Jie, 2020. "Does going public imply short-termism in investment behavior? Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    5. Mahdi Salehi & Grzegorz Zimon & Arash Arianpoor & Fatemeh Eidi Gholezoo, 2022. "The Impact of Investment Efficiency on Firm Value and Moderating Role of Institutional Ownership and Board Independence," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Chen, Xian & Li, Yang & Xiao, Jihong & Wen, Fenghua, 2020. "Oil shocks, competition, and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    7. Lee, Ji Hye & Byun, Hee Sub & Park, Kyung Suh, 2019. "How does product market competition affect corporate takeover in an emerging economy?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 26-45.
    8. Babar, Md. & Habib, Ahsan, 2021. "Product market competition in accounting, finance, and corporate governance: A review of the literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    9. Ziyi Zhao & Banghao Zhou, 2022. "Latecomers’ Isomorphic R&D Strategy and the Relationship With Performance: A Study on Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    10. Hui Li & Kangyin Dong & Hongdian Jiang & Renjin Sun & Xiaoyue Guo & Yiqiao Fan, 2017. "Risk Assessment of China’s Overseas Oil Refining Investment Using a Fuzzy-Grey Comprehensive Evaluation Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, April.
    11. Sultan Sikandar Mirza & Muhammad Ansar Majeed & Tanveer Ahsan, 2020. "Board gender diversity, competitive pressure and investment efficiency in Chinese private firms," Post-Print hal-02956320, HAL.

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