Has liberalization affected profit margins in Indian Industry?
) and Ashok Parikh Bulletin of Economic Research, 2005, vol. 57, issue 3, pages 273-304 Abstract: In this article, we analyse the determinants of firm-level profit margins in Indian manufacturing. The model we estimate is rich in its dynamic characterization allowing as it does for lagged terms, trend movements, business cycle effects and a structural break in 1991. We hypothesize that the reforms undertaken by the government in 1991 constitute a structural break that influences a firm’s independence to react to other firms as well as the extent of competition faced by these firms. Inserting this into the standard industrial organization model of profits, we obtain a dynamic market model. Estimating this model for 1980-98, we find that the 1991 reforms did have a significant impact on profit margins in Indian industry. The reforms have worked through their impact on a firm’s behavioural variables – advertising, Research and Development (R&D), capital-output ratios and managerial remune
