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Does Firm Investment Respond to Peers' Investment?

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Cecilia Bustamante

    (University of Maryland - Department of Finance)

  • Laurent Frésard

    (University of Lugano; Swiss Finance Institute)

Abstract

We study whether, how, and why the investment of a firm depends on the investment of other firms in the same product market. Using an instrumental variable based on the presence of local knowledge externalities, we find a sizeable complementarity of investment among product market peers, holding across a large majority of sectors. Peer effects are stronger in concentrated markets, featuring more heterogeneous firms, and for smaller firms with less precise information. Our findings are consistent with a model in which managers are imperfectly informed about fundamentals and use peers' investments as a source of information. Product market peer effects in investment could amplify shocks in production networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Cecilia Bustamante & Laurent Frésard, 2020. "Does Firm Investment Respond to Peers' Investment?," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 20-43, Swiss Finance Institute.
  • Handle: RePEc:chf:rpseri:rp2043
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    File URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2827803
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Machokoto & Daniel Gyimah & Boulis Maher Ibrahim, 2022. "The evolution of trade credit: new evidence from developed versus developing countries," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 857-912, October.
    2. Hennessy, Christopher A. & Chemla, Gilles, 2022. "Signaling, instrumentation, and CFO decision-making," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(3), pages 849-863.
    3. Wang, Jiaxin & Wu, Guilin & Huang, Xiang & Sun, Di & Song, Zilong, 2023. "Peer effects of corporate product quality information disclosure: Learning and competition," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Berg, Tobias & Reisinger, Markus & Streitz, Daniel, 2021. "Spillover effects in empirical corporate finance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(3), pages 1109-1127.
    5. Song, Suyong & Wang, Jiawei (Brooke), 2024. "Boardroom networks and corporate investment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Li, Dongxu, 2024. "Horizontal mergers and heterogeneous firm investments: evidence from the United States," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Sun, Wenyi & Yin, Chao & Zeng, Yeqin, 2023. "Precautionary motive or private benefit motive for holding cash: Evidence from CEO ownership," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    8. Grieser, William & Hadlock, Charles & LeSage, James & Zekhnini, Morad, 2022. "Network effects in corporate financial policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(1), pages 247-272.
    9. Sertsios, Giorgo, 2020. "Corporate finance, industrial organization, and organizational economics," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. Abdul Rashid & Ayanle Farah Said, 2024. "Peer Effects on Investment Decisions: Do Industry Leaders and Young Firms Behave Differently?," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(3), pages 791-811, June.
    11. Zhuang, Yuan & Nie, Jing & Wu, Weixing, 2022. "Peer influence and the value of cash holdings," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 265-284.
    12. Ajirloo, Bahman Fathi & Switzer, Lorne N., 2022. "Self-disclosed peer effects on corporate capital structure," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    13. Cave, Joshua & Lancheros, Sandra, 2024. "Local peer influence on dividend payout decisions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    14. Lin, Yu-En & Jiang, Xiao-Tong & Yu, Bo & Lam, Keith S.K., 2023. "Compensation peer crash risks and corporate own investments: New evidences from U.S. stock markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Liu, Yongda & Padgett, Carol & Yin, Chao, 2022. "Internal information quality and financial policy peer effects," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    investment; peer effect; competition; agglomeration economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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