Barriers to Competition and Productivity: Evidence from India

Jagadeesh Sivadasan

The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2009, vol. 9, issue 1, 66

Abstract: A number of economic theories suggest that barriers to competition lead to higher levels of inefficiency among incumbents. In this paper, we use a detailed plant-level dataset to study the impact on productivity of two reforms (initiated in 1991) aimed at increasing product market competition in India -- liberalization of foreign direct investment (FDI) and reduction in tariff rates. First, we examine the effect of the liberalization policies on mean plant-level productivity in the targeted industries. We find significant increases in productivity in the FDI and tariff-liberalized industries, particularly in the longer term (1993-94). We check and find our results robust to a range of robustness tests. Next, we examine the role of intensive (within-plant productivity growth) and extensive (reallocation from less to more productive plants) margins in the post-reform productivity improvement, and find a predominant role for the former. Finally, we assess potential channels for within-firm productivity improvement. Consistent with a role for price competition, we find evidence of greater declines in output prices as well as concentration measures in the liberalized sectors.

Keywords: competition; efficiency; firm performance; foreign direct investment; trade liberalization; industrial policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (85)

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DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2161

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