How Do Acquisitions Affect the Mental Health of Employees?

Rui Silva, ,, Ramin Baghai and Marieke Bos
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Laurent Bach

No 16657, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Using employer-employee level data linked to individual health records, we document that the incidence of stress, anxiety, depression, psychiatric medication usage, and even suicide increase following acquisitions. These effects are prevalent among employees from both targets and acquirers, in weak as well as in growing, profitable firms. Employees who experience negative career developments within the merging firms, 'blue-collar' workers, and employees with lower cognitive and non-cognitive skills are most affected. A variety of tests address endogeneity concerns, including an analysis exploiting failed mergers. Our findings point to mental illness as a significant non-pecuniary cost of acquisitions.

Keywords: Mergers and acquisitions; Corporate restructuring; Mental health; Mental illness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G34 I10 J81 L23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10
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