Capital Structure and Regulation in U.S. Local Telephony: an Exploratory Econometric Study

The paper aims at empirically investigating the relationship between regulation and the capital structure of the regulated firm, A key aspect of the referred relationship pertains a leverage effect according to which debt could be increased as a response to previous physical capital investment with an ultimate goal of inducing higher rates. Theoretical models like Spiegel and Spulber [1997, RAND Journal of Economics] highlight that effect. The present paper considers a panel data set of local exchange carriers-LECs in the U.S. and investigate Granger causality between changes in long-term debt (NDEBT) and gross investment (INV) in physical capital. The evidence accruing from a dynamic panel data estimation indicates an uni-directional causality from INV to NDEBT and therefore is, to a large extent, consistent with a leverage effect and with the notion that the size of the firm´s investment project can impose a restriction on the amount of new debt. The result prevails independent of a control variable that indicates the regulatory regime.regulation; capital structure; dynamic panel data

Capital Structure and Regulation in U.S. Local Telephony: An Exploratory Econometric Study

The paper aims at empirically investigating the relationship between regulation and the capital structure of the regulated firm, A key aspect of the referred relationship pertains a leverage effect according to which debt could be increased as a response to previous physical capital investment with an ultimate goal of inducing higher rates. Theoretical models like Spiegel and Spulber [1997, RAND Journal of Economics] highlight that effect. The present paper considers a panel data set of local exchange carriers-LECs in the U.S. and investigate Granger causality between changes in long-term debt (NDEBT) and gross investment (INV) in physical capital. The evidence accruing from a dynamic panel data estimation indicates an uni-directional causality from INV to NDEBT and therefore is, to a large extent, consistent with a leverage effect and with the notion that the size of the firm´s investment project can impose a restriction on the amount of new debt. The result prevails independent of a control variable that indicates the regulatory regime.regulation, capital structure, dynamic panel data

Concentration and market size: lower bound estimates for the Brazilian industry

The paper estimates the lower bound for market concentration taking as reference the framework advanced by Sutton (1991). Quantile regression methods were considered in the context of the Brazilian manufacturing industry in 2005 and separate estimates were obtained for exogenous and endogenous sunk cost industries. The evidence favoured a convergence of the concentration lower bound towards zero in exogenous sunk costs industries in line with previous empirical evidence for developed countries. In contrast, the magnitude was similar in the case of endogenous sunk cost industries what might reflect the low technological effort in that emerging economyconcentration market size

Complementarity of Innovation Policies in the Brazilian Industry: An Econometric Study

The paper aims at assessing discrete complementarities in innovation policies in the context of the Brazilian industry in 2003. The paper considers the approach advanced by Mohnen and and Röller [European Economic Review, 2005] that focuses on supermodularity and submodularity tests for obstacles to innovation (in the present application: lack of finance sources, lack of skilled personnel, lack of cooperation opportunities and lack of information on technology or markets). The application avoids micro-aggregation of the data and explicitly considers sampling weights in the econometric estimation. The analysis highlights the two phases of the innovation process in terms of the propensity and intensity of innovation. The evidence, unlike previous evidence, is not totally clear cut in terms of contrasts of the two phases. Nevertheless one can detect some substitutability and complementarity for specific pairs of obstacles in analysing the propensity to innovate, and strong evidence of complementarities in obstacles when considering the intensity of innovation. In the latter case, therefore, the evidence is suggestive and favours the adoption of more targeted incentive policies.supermodularity, complementarities, innovation

Tacit Collusion under Imperfect Monitoring in the Canadian Manufacturing Industry: An Empirical Study

The paper undertakes a cross-sectoral analysis of a salient empirical implication of the model of tacit collusion advanced by Abreu et al (1986). Specifically, the prevalence of a first order Markovian process for alternating between price wars and collusive periods is assessed by means of non-parametric tests. The analysis focuses on 30 different industries in Canada. The evidence provides weak support for optimal collusion in one industry, which is consistent with the idea that such collusive arrangements are unusual.tacit collusion, game theory, Canada, price war

Hierarchical Structure in Brazilian Industrial Firms: an Econometric Study

The paper investigates different implications of theoretical models for hierarchical structure. A sample of 6567 firms in the Brazilian manufacturing industry is considered and explanatory factors pertaining structural characteristics, network technology, technological innovations, managerial innovations and incentive mechanisms are investigated. Despite the broader availability of explanatory variables in some categories, one only detects important joint effects accruing from the group of network technology variables as had been previously obtained in the related literature. In contrast, however, one can detect a marginally significant joint effect of the newly considered group of incentive mechanisms variables. The evidence in terms of individual effects is largely consistent with the predicted effects from the theoretical literature on hierarchy.

Accounting and Economic Rates of Return: a Dynamic Econometric Investigation

Many studies have questioned empirical utilization of accounting data as internal rates of return would be more consistent with the relevant economic concept. The paper investigates the dynamic relationships between different measures of accounting rates of return (ARRs) and different approximations for the internal rates of returns (IRRs). In contrast with the prevailing case-study investigations, one considers a panel for quoted Brazilian firms in the manufacturing industry along the 1988-3/2003-2 period. Granger causality tests are considered and even though the results are not completely clear cut, some discernible uni-directional patterns emerge. In particular, there seems to be informational content between economic and accounting rates of return, between ROA (Net Profits/Total Assets) and PM (Gross Profits/ Operational Income), and internal rates of return. This seems to indicate that there is some validity in using accounting rates of return in certain economic studies.

Measuring Market Conduct in the Brazilian Cement Industry: a Dynamic Econometric Investigation

Indirect assessments of market conduct have become widespread in the New Empirical Industrial Organization-NEIO literature. Recently, Steen and Salvanes (1999) provided a flexible dynamic econometric formulation of the approach advanced by Bresnahan (1982) and Lau (1982). The present paper considers a similar approach as applied to regional cement markets in Brazil under more favorable data availability and it also attempts to address part of the critiques that usually emerge with respect to the NEIO literature. In particular, issues pertaining to structural stability and yet the control for the number of competing firms are addressed. The evidence clearly indicates non-negligible and distinct market power in the different regions and yet distinct conduct patterns in the short and long-run.

Hierarchical Structure in Brazilian Industrial Firms: An Econometric Study

The paper investigates different implications of theoretical models for hierarchical structure. A sample of 6578 firms in the Brazilian manufacturing industry is considered and explanatory factors pertaining structural characteristics, network technology, technological innovations, managerial innovations and Incentive mechanisms are investigated. Important joint effects are detected for all groups of variables in partial contrast with the related previous literature. Moreover, one detects significant joint effect of the newly considered group of incentive mechanisms variables. The evidence in terms of individual effects is largely consistent with the predicted effects from the theoretical literature on hierarchy.