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Chaebols and Firm Dynamics in Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Philippe Aghion

    (LSE - London School of Economics and Political Science, Collège de France - Chaire Economie des institutions, de l'innovation et de la croissance - CdF (institution) - Collège de France)

  • Sergei Guriev

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research)

  • Kangchul Jo

    (BOK ERI - Bank of Korea Economic Research Institute)

Abstract

We study firm dynamics in Korea before and after the 1997/8 Asian crisis and pro-competitive reforms that reduced the dominance of chaebols. We find that in industries that were dominated by chaebols before the crisis, labour productivity and total factor productivity of non-chaebol firms increased markedly after the reforms (relative to other industries). Furthermore, entry of non-chaebol firms increased significantly in all industries after the reform. After the crisis, the non-chaebol firms also dramatically increased their patenting activity. Finally, markups of chaebol firms declined substantially, especially within industries dominated by chaebols before the crisis. These results suggest that the crisis had the virtue of helping Korea move from catching-up growth based on investment in existing technologies to innovation-based growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Aghion & Sergei Guriev & Kangchul Jo, 2021. "Chaebols and Firm Dynamics in Korea," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03878612, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-03878612
    DOI: 10.1093/epolic/eiab016
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-03878612
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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