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Losing Under Contract: Transaction-Cost Externalities and Spot Market Disintegration

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  • Roberts Michael J

    (United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service)

  • Key Nigel

    (United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service)

Abstract

Standard economic intuition of revealed preference implies that when two parties freely enter into a contract then neither should be worse off. In this study, we develop a simple model showing that introducing the opportunity to contract can lower welfare for some, and perhaps all, contracting parties. We consider a situation where processors can obtain inputs from suppliers (farmers) using either a spot market or contractual arrangements, and where spot market transaction costs depends on the volume of trade in the spot market. We show that contracting parties may lose when more contracting results in higher transaction costs for spot market participants. At the margin, firms and input suppliers gain from signing contracts. However, contracting raises spot-market transaction costs for those who do not sign contracts, which provides a greater incentive for others to sign contracts, ultimately inducing more contracting than optimal. The model demonstrates why structural or organizational change may be rapid and why the private minimization of transaction costs may not lead to optimal institutional arrangements.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberts Michael J & Key Nigel, 2005. "Losing Under Contract: Transaction-Cost Externalities and Spot Market Disintegration," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 3(2), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bjafio:v:3:y:2005:i:2:n:2
    DOI: 10.2202/1542-0485.1094
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    2. Pirrong, Stephen Craig, 1993. "Contracting Practices in Bulk Shipping Markets: A Transactions Cost Explanation," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(2), pages 937-976, October.
    3. Bailey, DeeVon & Hunnicutt, Lynn, 2002. "The Role Of Transaction Costs In Market Selection: Market Selection In Commercial Feeder Cattle Operations," 2002 Annual meeting, July 28-31, Long Beach, CA 19894, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    4. Campbell, Joseph & LaMaster, Shawn & Smith, Vernon L & Van Boening, Mark, 1991. "Off-Floor Trading, Disintegration, and the Bid-Ask Spread in Experimental Markets," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 64(4), pages 495-522, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcel Fafchamps & Ruth Vargas Hill, 2008. "Price Transmission and Trader Entry in Domestic Commodity Markets," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 56(4), pages 729-766, July.
    2. Bart Minten & Anneleen Vandeplas & Yashodhan Ghorpade & Johan F.M. Swinnen, 2010. "Horticulture Wholesale Trade and Governance in India," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 5(1), pages 113-136, April.
    3. Hueth, Brent & Ligon, Ethan & Dimitri, Carolyn, 2007. "AJAE Appendix: Agricultural Contracts: Data and Research Needs," American Journal of Agricultural Economics APPENDICES, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 89(5), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Volpe, Richard J., III, 2006. "Exploring the Potential Effects of Organic Production on Contracting in American Agribusiness," 2006 Annual meeting, July 23-26, Long Beach, CA 21086, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    5. Blank, Steven C. & Volpe, Richard J. III & Erickson, Kenneth W., 2008. "The relationship between industry structure and production contracting: raising questions at the beginning of a trend," 2008 Annual Meeting, June 23-24, 2008, Big Sky, Montana 291743, Western Agricultural Economics Association.
    6. Key Nigel, 2011. "Does the Prevalence of Contract Hog Production Influence the Price Received by Independent Hog Producers?," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-26, May.

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