The Diversification of Production

Boyan Jovanovic

BJ

Boyan Jovanovic New York University

Discussants: Richard Gilbert

RG

Richard Gilbert University of California at Berkelev

MOST FIRMS TODAY produce more than one product. In this sense their
production is diversified, or horizontally integrated. This paper addresses
two questions. First, why have firms become more diversified
over the past century? And second, why are diversified firms more
oriented toward research and development (R&D) than nondiversified
firms?
I tackle these two questions under the assumption that a firm diversifies
to maximize its efficiency. Economists have often argued that a
firm reaps efficiency gains when it diversifies its production because
its managerial and R&D inputs can be shared among its various activities.