merger and acquisition activity the ers report structural change in meat poultry dairy grain processing industries ollinger et al 2005 makes it clear that consolida tion food industry over 1977 92 caused a major reduction employ ment seven of eight drop number plants by about third since consolidation coincided with wave mergers acquisitions appears plausible job reductions decline wages can come from closing abolishing jobs or laying off workers at existing first we consider whether m&as plant shutdowns table 1 shows an apparent linkage between contrac indicating twice as many occurred 81 1982 86 6 7 percent respectively all last row panel than 1972 76 1987 91 2 5 4 9 also exchange market share seller to buyer amounted 20 periods but only
