Abstract: This study investigates the influence of strategic competition on peer effects in corporate investment by using a sample of 28,522 observations of Chinese listed companies from 2008 to 2020. The study develops a linear-in means model and uses an instrumental variables approach, and uses the competitive strategy measure (CSM) and Lerner index as proxies of competitive strategies and competitive positions to capture the firm-level competition. The empirical results demonstrate that when firms compete as strategic substitutes and when firms are in higher competitive positions, the peer effects in corporate investment are significant and positive. In addition, in circumstances of high information asymmetry, firms competing as strategic substitutes and firms in high competitive positions rely more on information related to investment from peer firms. Moreover, industry policies and barriers do not significantly influence peer effects in investment. This study offers new empirical evidence regarding peer effects in corporate investment in China.

Keywords: Corporate investment, peer effects, competitive strategy, competitive position