Post-privatization speed of state ownership relinquishment: Determinants and influence on firm performance

This study investigates the potential determinants of speed of state ownership relinquishment, measured by the annual decrease in the percentage of ownership by the government, as well as its impact on corporate performance. Several country- and firm-level determinants affecting the speed of the government ownership withdrawal are documented. Likewise, the initial positive relation between the speed of government ownership relinquishment and performance is reported. However, beyond a certain level, if the governments increase the annual percentage of ownership relinquishment, the performance could be inferior. In other words, a nonlinear relation with an inverted U-shape is detected.