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The Length of Product Line in Distribution Channels

Author

Listed:
  • Yunchuan Liu

    (College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61820)

  • Tony Haitao Cui

    (Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455)

Abstract

This paper studies a manufacturer's optimal decisions on extending its product line when the manufacturer sells through either a centralized channel or a decentralized channel. We show that a manufacturer may provide a longer product line for consumers in a decentralized channel than in a centralized channel if the market is fully covered. In addition, a manufacturer's decisions on the length of its product line may not always be optimal from a social welfare perspective in either a centralized or a decentralized channel. Under certain conditions, a decentralized channel can provide the product line length that is socially optimal, whereas a centralized channel cannot.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunchuan Liu & Tony Haitao Cui, 2010. "The Length of Product Line in Distribution Channels," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 474-482, 05-06.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormksc:v:29:y:2010:i:3:p:474-482
    DOI: 10.1287/mksc.1090.0533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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