All That Glitters is Not Gold: Examining the Negative Impact of Real Estate Value on Companies' Market Competitiveness

Abstract

This paper introduces and investigates the hypothesis that the crowding-out effect surpasses the collateral effect, suggesting that an increase in the value of real estate holdings by companies hinders their competitiveness in the product market within emerging economies. Through our analysis, we elucidate the underlying mechanism, demonstrating that although Chinese listed companies benefit from their real estate holdings in terms of debt financing, these financial resources are predominantly reinvested in real estate projects rather than other productive endeavors. This effect is particularly pronounced when companies face significant financial constraints, operate in highly monopolistic industries, and are situated in regions where local governments heavily rely on land finance and face substantial pressure for GDP growth. By shedding light on the adverse implications of companies' real estate holdings and uncovering the factors contributing to the crowding-out effect, our research underscores the importance of enhanced regulations in the real estate markets of developing nations during the periods of irrational housing booms.