This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Determinants of firm boundaries: Empirical analysis of the Japanese auto industry from 1984 to 2002

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Nagaoka, Sadao
Takeishi, Akira
Noro, Yoshihisa
Abstract

Using the framework of contract economics, we assess the determinants of the choice of vertical integration, relational contracting (keiretsu sourcing) or market sourcing by seven Japanese automobile manufacturers (OEMs) with respect to 54 components. Our major findings are as follows. First, the specificity of a component significantly promotes keiretsu over market sourcing. This effect declines with the testability of the component, consistent with transaction cost economics. Second, the interdependency of a component makes vertical integration significantly preferred to keiretsu sourcing, while the specificity of the component does not. These results suggest that the hold-up risk due to specific investment can often be effectively controlled by relational contracting based on keiretsu sourcing, while accommodating non-contractible design changes may often require vertical integration. Third, high testability of a component significantly promotes the choice of keiretsu over market sourcing. One interpretation of this result is that a keiretsu supplier may have both the incentive to gather information for quality improvement in an environment of high testability, and the incentive to share the information with the OEM for its implementation. J. Japanese Int. Economies 22 (2) (2008) 187-206.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WMC-4S8CR4H-1/1/c64470be5f6dfc3572103dfcf365d17e
File Format:
File Function:
Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.

Publisher Info
Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Journal of the Japanese and International Economies.

Volume (Year): 22 (2008)
Issue (Month): 2 (June)
Pages: 187-206
Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:22:y:2008:i:2:p:187-206

Contact details of provider:
Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/622903

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Heidi Boesdal).

Related research
Keywords:

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? About five million pdf files are downloaded through RePEc every year.

This page was last updated on 2009-12-3.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.