The Firm as a Dedicated Hierarchy: A Theory of the Origin and Growth of Firms

63 Pages Posted: 21 Jun 2000 Last revised: 15 Aug 2022

See all articles by Raghuram G. Rajan

Raghuram G. Rajan

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; International Monetary Fund (IMF); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Luigi Zingales

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 2000

Abstract

A fundamental problem entrepreneurs face in the formative stages of their businesses is how to provide incentives for employees to protect, rather than steal, the source of organizational rents. We study how the entrepreneur's response to this problem will determine the organization's internal structure, growth, and its eventual size. In particular, our model suggests large, steep hierarchies will predominate in physical capital intensive industries, and these will typically have seniority-based promotion policies. By contrast, flat hierarchies will be seen in human capital intensive industries. These will have up-or-out promotion systems, where experienced managers either become owners or are fired. Furthermore, flat hierarchies will have more distinctive technologies or cultures than steep hierarchies. The model points to some essential differences between organized hierarchies and markets.

Suggested Citation

Rajan, Raghuram G. and Zingales, Luigi, The Firm as a Dedicated Hierarchy: A Theory of the Origin and Growth of Firms (February 2000). NBER Working Paper No. w7546, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=227634

Raghuram G. Rajan (Contact Author)

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Luigi Zingales

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