Discrimination, Managers, and Firm Performance: Evidence from Aryanizations in Nazi Germany

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Huber, Kilian; Lindenthal, Volker; Waldinger, Fabian
• 署名单位: University of Chicago; University of Munich
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/714994
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 2455-2503
• 关键词: MARKET TEST; LABOR; TECHNOLOGY; IMPACT; boards; style; spillovers; executives; leadership; valuation

摘要

Large-scale increases in discrimination can lead to dismissals of highly qualified managers. We investigate how expulsions of senior Jewish managers, due to rising discrimination in Nazi Germany, affected large corporations. Firms that lost Jewish managers experienced persistent reductions in stock prices, dividends, and returns on assets. Aggregate market value fell by roughly 1.8% of German GNP because of the expulsions. Managers who served as key connectors to other firms and managers who were highly educated were particularly important for firm performance. The findings imply that individual managers drive firm performance. Discrimination against qualified business leaders causes first-order economic losses.