Business Group Affiliation and Investment Efficiency: International Evidence

ABSTRACT We examine the effect of business group affiliation on firm‐level investment efficiency using an international sample. Prior research has investigated both the benefits and drawbacks of this form of ownership structure. We first document that group affiliates are more efficient in their investment decisions than standalones by constraining both over‐investment and under‐investment. Moreover, this internal capital allocation matters more in countries with high external financing restrictions and less developed capital markets. Analysis at the business group level reveals that this relation is more pronounced for member firms in a pyramidal structure group and located in the lower layer.