Using this empirical approach, we find that the liquidation of an establishment imposes negativespillovers on the immediate neighborhood (as captured by Census blocks). Specifically, relative toreorganized establishments, we find that liquidation leads to a significant decrease in employmentamong non-bankrupt businesses in the same Census block. The effect takes place gradually andpersists over the five-year period after the bankruptcy filing. Moreover, the effects are sizableonly when the bankrupt establishment is fairly large relative to the size of the block. We furtherdecompose this effect into changes at existing establishments and entry into the area. We find thatthe decline in employment is largely due to lower growth of existing establishments and, to a lesserextent, reduced entry into the area.