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Good Dispersion, Bad Dispersion

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  • Kehrig, Matthias
  • Vincent, Nicolas

Abstract

Dispersion in marginal revenue products of inputs across plants is commonly thought to reflect misallocation, i.e., dispersion is "bad." We document that most dispersion occurs across plants within rather than between firms. In a model of multi-plant firms, we then show that dispersion can be "good": Eliminating frictions increases productivity dispersion and raises overall output. Based on this framework, we argue that in U.S. manufacturing, one-quarter of the total variance of revenue products reflects good dispersion. In contrast, we find that in emerging economies, almost all dispersion is bad and the gains from eliminating distortions are larger than previously thought.

Suggested Citation

  • Kehrig, Matthias & Vincent, Nicolas, 2019. "Good Dispersion, Bad Dispersion," CEPR Discussion Papers 13772, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13772
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    3. Wang, Wenya & Yang, Ei, 2023. "Multi-product firms and misallocation," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Isaac Baley & Andrés Blanco, 2021. "Aggregate Dynamics in Lumpy Economies," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(3), pages 1235-1264, May.
    5. Charles Boissel & Adrien Matray, 2021. "Dividend Taxes and the Allocation of Capital," Working Papers 2021-39, Princeton University. Economics Department..
    6. J. David Brown & Emin Dinlersoz & John S. Earle, 2022. "Productivity Dispersion, Misallocation, and Reallocation Frictions: Theory and Evidence from Policy Reforms," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(1), pages 1-43, March.
    7. Elhanan Helpman & Benjamin Niswonger, 2022. "Dynamics of Markups, Concentration, and Product Span," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 42-81, July.
    8. Kenji Fujiwara, 2024. "Firm heterogeneity in competition among the big and the small," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(1), pages 147-166, January.
    9. Dan Cao & Erick Sager & Henry Hyatt & Toshihiko Mukoyama, 2019. "Firm Growth through New Establishments," 2019 Meeting Papers 1484, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    10. Kaoru Hosono & Miho Takizawa, 2022. "Japan's productivity stagnation: Using dynamic Hsieh–Klenow decomposition," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(1), pages 218-232, January.
    11. Antonin Bergeaud & Edouard Jousselin & Clément Malgouyres, 2021. "Ten years on from the business tax reform: how has it affected companies’ behaviour? [Dix ans après la réforme de la taxe professionnelle : quels effets sur le comportement des entreprises ?]," Bulletin de la Banque de France, Banque de France, issue 238.
    12. Adrien Matray & Charles Boissel, 2020. "Higher Dividend Taxes, No Problem! Evidence from Taxing Entrepreneurs in France," Working Papers 276, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Misallocation; Productivity dispersion; Multi-plant firms; Internal capital markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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