This study examines the influence of peer firms on a firm’s investment policy in Pakistan during the period 2001–2017. It also investigates the heterogeneity in peer effects by taking into account a firm’s age and its leadership role in the industry. The system-GMM estimation results suggest that peer firms significantly influence a firm’s investments on both tangible and intangible assets. Yet, peer effects are more pronounced for tangible investment. We also observe that young firms are more prone to imitate the investment decisions of their industry peers. However, the findings indicate that mimicking is not a tactical behaviour for industry leader firms. These findings have important implications for both the firm management and the owner community.
Board Design and Governance Failures at Peer Firms
