Ceris-CNR Working paper 04/2001

Relatedness, Coherence, and Coherence Dynamics
Empirical Evidence from Italian Manufacturing

Stefano Valvano
(Accenture*)

Davide Vannoni
(University of Pavia and Ceris-Cnr)

March 2001

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of coherence and coherence change using a sample of Italian leading firms in the period 1993-1996. Following a methodology developed by Teece et al (1994), the observed diversification patterns of our sample firms provide the information required to construct an index of relatedness between pair of sectors, which is in turn used to obtain a measure of firm’s coherence. The econometric analysis highlights that relatedness is higher when sectors share similar technological and marketing characteristics, and when they are positioned at different stages of the productive chain. Analogously, coherence is higher for firms active in industries characterised by similar R&D intensities and exploiting vertical integration links. Firms which enter the group of top 5 leaders are more coherent than the average. From a dynamic perspective, we find that coherence increases for firms with main activities in sectors which are expected to be more affected from EU integration. Finally, the results show that a deepening of vertical integration strategies is good for coherence change, while an increase of diversification brings a reduction in coherence.

Key words: relatedness, coherence, diversification
Jel Classification: L2, L21

 

SCARICA QUESTO WP

 

*The contents of this work are the result of our own analyses and evaluations, and they are independent of the views of Accenture.

Corresponding author:
Davide Vannoni
c/o CERIS-CNR
Via Avogadro 8
10121 Torino, Italy; Tel: ++39-011-5601210; Fax: ++39-011-5626058
e-mail: d.vannoni@ceris.to.cnr.it