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The Effect of Adversity on Process Innovations and Managerial Incentives

Author

Listed:
  • Dostie, Benoit

    (HEC Montreal)

  • Jayaraman, Rajshri

    (European School of Management and Technology (ESMT))

Abstract

This paper asks whether adversity spurs the introduction of process innovations and increases the use of managerial incentives by firms. Using a large panel data set of workplaces in Canada, our identification strategy relies on exogenous variation in adversity arising from increased border security along the 49th parallel following 9/11. Our longitudinal difference-in-differences estimates indicate that firms responded to adversity by introducing new or improved processes, but did not change their use of managerial incentives. These results suggest that the threat of bankruptcy may provide impetus for improving efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Dostie, Benoit & Jayaraman, Rajshri, 2009. "The Effect of Adversity on Process Innovations and Managerial Incentives," IZA Discussion Papers 4261, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4261
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Funke & Marc Gronwald, 2009. "A Convex Hull Approach to Counterfactual Analysis of Trade Openness and Growth," CESifo Working Paper Series 2692, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    efficiency; managerial incentives; natural experiment; process innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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