How Organizational Hierarchy Affects Information Production
59 Pages Posted: 10 May 2018
Date Written: April 26, 2018
Abstract
We exploit a variation in organizational hierarchy induced by a reorganization plan implemented in roughly 2,000 bank branches in India, to investigate how organizational hierarchy affects the allocation of credit. We find that increased hierarchization of a branch induces credit rationing, reduces the performance on loans, and generates standardization in loan contracts. Additionally, we find that hierarchical structures perform better in environments characterized by a high degree of corruption, highlighting the benefits of hierarchies in restraining rent seeking activities. Overall, our results are consistent with the view that valuable information may be lost in hierarchical structures.
Keywords: Hierarchies, Information, Banks, Credit
JEL Classification: D21, D83, G21, G30
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation