Abstract
This paper explores the impact of product market competition on the positive relation between labor mobility (LM) and future returns. We develop a production-based model and formalize the intuition that low exposure to systematic risk in a concentrated industry limits LM’s amplifying effect on operating leverage. Therefore, the model predicts a stronger positive relation between LM and expected returns for firms in competitive industries. Consistent with the model’s prediction, we empirically find that LM predicts returns only among firms in competitive industries. This evidence suggests that the intensity of competition in firms’ product market potentially drives the positive LM-return relation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 440–480 |
Number of pages | 41 |
Journal | Review of Asset Pricing Studies |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 9 Jan 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2023 |