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An empirical investigation of the financialization convergence hypothesis

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  • Sylvia Maxfield
  • W. Kindred Winecoff
  • Kevin L. Young

Abstract

Claims of global homogenization towards a singular model of finance capitalism constitute a “financialization convergence hypothesis” that has not been subject to systematic empirical scrutiny. Using extensive firm-level data we center on the key indicator of firm leverage, and reveal that substantial cross-national and cross-firm variation still persists. We first compare distributions across OECD countries and find no significant evidence of convergence over time. We then assess whether firms classified as prudent by a simple leverage threshold comprise a declining share of total financial assets over time. We find they do not, and that trajectories remain largely distinct. We do find empirical evidence of financialization convergence in two specific areas. First, there was convergence within the US and the UK in the years immediately proceeding the crisis – but not in other countries representative of stereotypical non-Anglo-American types financial systems, such as Germany and France. Second, we find convergence within the category of large, transnationally-active financial firms. Overall our results suggest that while the behavior of the world's largest globally active financial institutions is converging irrespective of home domicile, their activities are not necessarily leading to the general global homogenization of financial forms and activities implied by the financialization convergence hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvia Maxfield & W. Kindred Winecoff & Kevin L. Young, 2017. "An empirical investigation of the financialization convergence hypothesis," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(6), pages 1004-1029, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rripxx:v:24:y:2017:i:6:p:1004-1029
    DOI: 10.1080/09692290.2017.1371061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter A. Gourevitch & James Shinn, 2007. "Introduction to Political Power and Corporate Control: The New Global Politics of Corporate Governance," Introductory Chapters, in: Political Power and Corporate Control: The New Global Politics of Corporate Governance, Princeton University Press.
    2. Anat Admati & Martin Hellwig, 2013. "The Bankers' New Clothes: What's Wrong with Banking and What to Do about It," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 9929.
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    Cited by:

    1. Armin Mertens & Christine Trampusch & Florian Fastenrath & Rebecca Wangemann, 2021. "The political economy of local government financialization and the role of policy diffusion," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 370-387, April.
    2. Albina Gibadullina, 2024. "Who owns and controls global capital? Uneven geographies of asset manager capitalism," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 56(2), pages 558-585, March.
    3. Raphael Cunha & Andreas Kern, 2022. "Global banking and the spillovers from political shocks at the core of the world economy," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 717-749, October.
    4. Fichtner, Jan & Heemskerk, Eelke & Petry, Johannes, 2021. "The new gatekeepers of financial claims: States, passive markets, and the growing power of index providers," SocArXiv x45j3, Center for Open Science.
    5. Natalya Naqvi & Anne Henow & Ha-Joon Chang, 2018. "Kicking away the financial ladder? German development banking under economic globalisation," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(5), pages 672-698, September.

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