International Journal of the Economics of Business

The International Journal of the Economics of Business (IJEB) is sponsoring a special issue in collaboration with the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The IJEB is devoted to the dissemination of original, high-quality, peer-reviewed research in economics that is clearly applicable to business or related public policy issues.

Academic researchers and regulators increasingly recognise that who owns a firm (and what else they own) might matter for firm objectives, firm conduct, or market outcomes. Common ownership may affect how fiercely firms compete or may increase efficiency on some margins. Finance firms and tech firms may differ in their plans for acquisition targets. Private equity funds may pursue roll-up acquisitions. Firms affiliated with corporate groups may react differently to shocks and opportunities compared with stand-alone entities.

This special issue aims to spotlight the topic of “Ownership and competition” and is guest-edited by Giacinta Cestone (Bayes, City University of London), Martin Schmalz (Oxford Said Business School) and Jakob Schneebacher (CMA). The editors are interested in how ownership structures, specific types of owners and ownership portfolios influence firm conduct, market structure and competition. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Causes, prevalence and consequences of common ownership
• Firm ownership and startup acquisitions
• Private equity ownership and consumer outcomes
• Corporate groups, the role of internal capital markets and competitive outcomes
• Ownership and firm dynamics in the macroeconomy

The editors welcome empirical and theoretical work from a range of styles. Descriptive, policy-relevant empirical work and submissions using UK data are especially welcome. The CMA will host a conference for initial submissions, followed by peer review for final submissions. Submissions will be evaluated on the importance and clarity of the research question, and the strength of the research design, and may still be work in progress

Initial submissions should be sent electronically to Jakob Schneebacher at [email protected], no later than Friday, 6 October 2023. Authors will be notified regarding selection to the conference soon thereafter. The conference will be held in London on Friday, 8 December 2023.

Final submissions must be submitted via the Journal submission page. Papers may be published in the CMA Discussion Paper series.

The papers should represent original research and not be published elsewhere. After an expedited refereeing process, IJEB will publish accepted papers in a special issue during 2024.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article