This paper documents recent structural changes in China's corporate landscape, based on company level data, providing a complementary perspective to that of official Chinese statistics. We classify China's largest companies by revenue since 2004 (based on Fortune Global 500 rankings), and...

This paper documents recent structural changes in China's corporate landscape, based on company level data, providing a complementary perspective to that of official Chinese statistics. We classify China's largest companies by revenue since 2004 (based on Fortune Global 500 rankings), and...

Many industries experience periods of excess capacity. Explanations include firms deterring rivals, anticipating future demand, or the lumpiness of investment. This paper identifies capacity investment intended to deter rivals separately from investment driven by other factors. To achieve this...

We study the feasibility and optimal design of pre-sale crowdfunding contracts where participating consumers pay a premium above the future expected spot price and financially constrained entrepreneurs balance the potential product-market distortions introduced through pre-sale crowdfunding...

This paper studies the direct effect of foreign investment on target firm operating performance and growth. Foreign-invested firms grow in size but not in productivity compared with non-invested firms over a four-year horizon. Decomposing foreign investment into foreign direct investment and...

The spot price of crude oil declined from $106.07 per barrel on June 30, 2014 to $53.45 per barrel on December 31, 2014, representing a 50% decline within six months. By December 31, 2015, the spot price had declined further, to $37.13, and it remains substantially below its level during 2011...

This paper explores the extent to which “zombie” firms – defined as old firms that have persistent problems meeting their interest payments – are stifling labour productivity performance. The results show that the prevalence of and resources sunk in zombie firms have risen since the...

Land, capital and labor are the three primary components of production. This basic relation can be readily applied to the commercial property market where land in a primary location, capital improvements (buildings) built on the land, and dedicated employees impact performance and returns. The...

The paper reviews legal, institutional and enforcement problems behind the lack of collateral credit to private firms in the early transition in Bulgaria. It also quantifies the cost of these problems and outlines an approach to reform of collateral institutions in order to increase the supply...

Despite a vast accumulation of private capital, China is not embracing capitalism. Deceptively familiar capitalist features disguise the profoundly unfamiliar foundations of 'market socialism with Chinese characteristics.' The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), by controlling the career advancement...