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Supply Chain Control: A Theory of Vertical Integration

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Author Info
Ursino, Giovanni
Abstract

Improving a company's bargaining position is often cited as a chief motivation to vertically integrate with suppliers. This paper expands on that view in building a new theory of vertical integration. In my model firms integrate to gain bargaining power against other suppliers in the production process. The cost of integration is a loss of flexibility in choosing the most suitable suppliers for a particular final product. I show that the firms who make the most specific investments in the production process have the greatest incentive to integrate. The theory provides novel insights to the understanding of numerous stylized facts such as the effect of financial development on the vertical structure of firms, the observed pattern from FDI to outsourcing in international trade, the effect of technological obsolescence on organizations, etc.

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File URL: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/18357/
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number 18357.

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Date of creation: 01 Oct 2009
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Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:18357

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Related research
Keywords: vertical integration; supply chain; bargaining; outside options;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

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  7. Rajan, Raghuram G & Zingales, Luigi, 2001. "The Influence of the Financial Revolution on the Nature of Firms," CEPR Discussion Papers 2782, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Daron Acemoglu & Pol Antràs & Elhanan Helpman, 2007. "Contracts and Technology Adoption," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 97(3), pages 916-943, June. [Downloadable!]
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  11. Riordan, Michael H. & Williamson, Oliver E., 1985. "Asset specificity and economic organization," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 365-378, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  16. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1993. "Knowledge of the Firm and the Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 625-645, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  18. Daron Acemoglu & Philippe Aghion & Rachel Griffith & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2004. "Vertical integration and technology: theory and evidence," IFS Working Papers W04/34, Institute for Fiscal Studies. [Downloadable!]
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  19. Gene M. Grossman & Elhanan Helpman, 2002. "Integration Versus Outsourcing In Industry Equilibrium," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 117(1), pages 85-120, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  21. Jensen, Michael C & Murphy, Kevin J, 1990. "Performance Pay and Top-Management Incentives," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(2), pages 225-64, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  22. Salinger, Michael A, 1988. "Vertical Mergers and Market Foreclosure," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 103(2), pages 345-56, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  23. Masten, Scott E, 1984. "The Organization of Production: Evidence from the Aerospace Industry," Journal of Law & Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(2), pages 403-17, October.
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