'captive markets'
Subtitle: the impact of kidnappings on corporate investment in colombia
By: Rony Pshisva and Gustavo A. Suarez
Contributors: Suarez, Gustavo A.
Series: Finance and economics discussion series -- 2006-18; Finance and economics discussion series (Online) -- 2006-18.
Publisher: Federal Reserve Board
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Description: "This paper measures the impact of crime on firm investment by exploiting variation in kidnappings in Colombia from 1996 to 2002.  Our central result is that firms invest less when kidnappings directly target firms.  We also find that broader forms of crime--homicides, guerrilla attacks, and general kidnappings--have no significant effect on investment.  This finding alleviates concerns that our main result may be driven by unobserved variables that explain both overall criminal activity and investment.  Furthermore, kidnappings that target firms reduce not only the investment of firms that sell in local markets, but also the investment of firms that sell in foreign markets.  Thus, an unobservable correlation between poor demand conditions and criminal activity is unlikely to explain the negative impact of firm-related kidnappings on investment.  Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that managers are reluctant to invest when their freedom and life are at risk, although we cannot completely discard alternative explanations"--Federal Reserve Board web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 12/7/2006.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in print.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.