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The Influence of Institutional Constraints on Outsourcing

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  • RAMJI BALAKRISHNAN
  • LESLIE ELDENBURG
  • RANJANI KRISHNAN
  • NAOMI SODERSTROM

Abstract

Drawing on transaction cost economics and institutional theory we argue that the effects of institutional constraints on the transaction costs of outsourcing vary systematically with the type of service outsourced and the ownership structure of the outsourcing firm. Using data from hospitals, we demonstrate that these effects lead to a higher extent of outsourcing of nonclinical compared to clinical services, and larger outsourcing response of nonclinical services to cost pressures from managed care. Further, the effects of ownership structure and associated governance mechanisms on institutional constraints are reflected in the empirical results as cross‐sectional variations in the extent to which outsourcing is invoked as a response to cost pressures by hospitals of different ownership.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramji Balakrishnan & Leslie Eldenburg & Ranjani Krishnan & Naomi Soderstrom, 2010. "The Influence of Institutional Constraints on Outsourcing," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 767-794, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:48:y:2010:i:4:p:767-794
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-679X.2010.00381.x
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    1. Cruz, Antonio Miguel & Haugan, Gregory L. & Rincon, Adriana Maria Rios, 2014. "The effects of asset specificity on maintenance financial performance: An empirical application of Transaction Cost Theory to the medical device maintenance field," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 237(3), pages 1037-1053.
    2. Eldenburg, Leslie G. & Price, Richard A. & Román, Francisco J., 2019. "An exploratory study of factors affecting the longevity of manufacturing operations offshore," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 59-78.
    3. Bernhard Eicher, 2016. "Selection of asset investment models by hospitals: examination of influencing factors, using Switzerland as an example," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 554-579, October.
    4. Balakrishnan, Ramji & Huang, Jizhang & Xuan, Yang, 2023. "The influence of institutional pressure on target setting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    5. Karen L. Sedatole & Dimitris Vrettos & Sally K. Widener, 2012. "The Use of Management Control Mechanisms to Mitigate Moral Hazard in the Decision to Outsource," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 553-592, May.
    6. Tong Lu & Konduru Sivaramakrishnan & Yanyan Wang & Lisheng Yu, 2021. "The Real Effects of Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1493-1516, May.
    7. Shohei Nagasawa, 2018. "Asymmetric cost behavior in local public enterprises: exploring the public interest and striving for efficiency," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 225-273, December.
    8. Hans B. Christensen & Eric Floyd & Mark Maffett, 2020. "The Only Prescription Is Transparency: The Effect of Charge-Price-Transparency Regulation on Healthcare Prices," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(7), pages 2861-2882, July.
    9. Dalton, Christina Marsh & Warren, Patrick L., 2016. "Cost versus control: Understanding ownership through outsourcing in hospitals," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-15.
    10. Hemmert, Martin & Kim, DaeSoo & Kim, Jisun & Cho, BooYun, 2016. "Building the supplier's trust: Role of institutional forces and buyer firm practices," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 25-37.
    11. Cristiana Cattaneo & Gaia Bassani, 2017. "Rilevazione del gap tra DRG price e internal cost: implicazioni di case-mix accounting," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(2), pages 13-31.
    12. Feng, Yunting & Tong, Xun & Zhu, Qinghua, 2020. "The market value of sustainable practices in the luxury industry: An identity mismatch and institutional theoretical perspective," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    13. Eva Labro & Lorien Stice-Lawrence, 2020. "Updating Accounting Systems: Longitudinal Evidence from the Healthcare Sector," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(12), pages 6042-6061, December.
    14. Fabienne Miller & Justin Wang & Joe Zhu & Ya Chen & Jason Hockenberry, 2017. "Investigation of the Impact of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform on Hospital Costs and Quality of Care," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 250(1), pages 129-146, March.
    15. Cannon, James N. & Lamboy-Ruiz, Melvin A. & Watanabe, Olena V., 2022. "Ownership type and earnings management in U.S. hospitals," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    16. Zhu, Bo & Yuan, Menglin, 2022. "The business cycle and cost structure’s adjustment speed," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

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