Business Groups in Emerging Markets - Substitutes for Missing Institutions

Hainz, Christa (July 2004): Business Groups in Emerging Markets - Substitutes for Missing Institutions. Discussion Papers in Economics 2004-17

Abstract

Abstract: Business groups in emerging markets perform better than unaffiliated firms. We study how business groups can substitute some functions of missing institutions, for example, enforcing contracts. In a two period model, there is no contract enforcement in the first period. The firms within the business group are connected to each other by a vertical production structure, resulting in externalities due to double marginalization, and an internal capital market. Our model derives the sequencing of investments and the credit contract offered by the headquarters that solve the ex post moral hazard problem. Thus, the business group's organizational mode and the financial structure facilitate relational contracting.

• Item Type: Paper (Discussion Paper)
• Keywords: Business groups, internal capital market, institutions
• Subjects: Economics; Economics > Discussion Papers in Economics
• Dewey Classification: 300 Social sciences; 300 Social sciences > 330 Wirtschaft
• Journal of Economic Literature classification: G21, K49, L22
• Language: English