Stimulating Firm-Specific Investment through Risk Management
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Business School Research Paper Series
Long Range Planning, Vol. 36, pp. 49-59, 2003
11 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2007
Abstract
This article suggests a rationale for firm risk management that has been largely ignored in financial economics literature. It presents an argument for harnessing the influence of a company's stakeholders who, whether as employees, suppliers or customers, make a valuable investment specific to the company. Such investments are crucial for a firm's competitive advantage, yet because they are firm-specific and therefore cannot be transformed or transferred, stakeholders are often concerned about the risks involved in making them. A company's efforts to manage risk can therefore persuade stakeholders to make even greater firm-specific investments, bringing benefits to shareholders and stakeholders alike.
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