IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v61y2008i6p669-677.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Upstream or downstream in the value chain?

Author

Listed:
  • Singer, Marcos
  • Donoso, Patricio

Abstract

Companies in the natural resources industry (e.g., mining, timber, farming and fishery) face the dilemma of whether to focus upstream or downstream in the value chain. The literature provides arguments and empirical evidence for either position. This paper presents an analytical framework based on the neoclassical theory of the firm, for which the best competitive advantage is the one that maximizes production efficiency. It serves to formulate an optimization model for the sawmill industry, and draws the data from the largest sawmilling company in the southern hemisphere. Although one conclusion is that the company should concentrate on the upstream activities, such conclusion is not applicable to other firms, since the analysis of the upstream-downstream dilemma must focus on the individual capabilities of each firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Singer, Marcos & Donoso, Patricio, 2008. "Upstream or downstream in the value chain?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(6), pages 669-677, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:61:y:2008:i:6:p:669-677
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148-2963(07)00242-1
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pieter J.H. van Beukering & Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh & Marco A. Janssen & Harmen Verbruggen, 2000. "International Material-Product Chains: An Alternative Perspective on International Trade and Trade Theories," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 00-034/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    2. Roos, Anders & Flinkman, Matti & Jappinen, Armas & Lonner, Goran & Warensjo, Mats, 2001. "Production strategies in the Swedish softwood sawmilling industry," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(3-4), pages 189-197, November.
    3. Schwarz, H.-G., 2003. "Modelling investment and implementation of technological progress in metal industries. Theory and application to the German primary aluminium industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(3-4), pages 99-109.
    4. Gérard Gaudet & Ngo Van Long & Antoine Soubeyran, 1999. "Upstream-Downstream Specialization by Integrated Firms in a Partially Integrated Industry," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 14(4), pages 321-335, June.
    5. Jeffrey D. Sachs & Andrew M. Warner, 1995. "Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth," NBER Working Papers 5398, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Egging, Rudolf G. & Gabriel, Steven A., 2006. "Examining market power in the European natural gas market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 2762-2778, November.
    7. John McLaren, 1999. "Speculation on Primary Commodities: The Effects of Restricted Entry," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 66(4), pages 853-871.
    8. Timothy J. Lowe & Paul V. Preckel, 2004. "Decision Technologies for Agribusiness Problems: A Brief Review of Selected Literature and a Call for Research," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 6(3), pages 201-208.
    9. E. Grifell-Tatjé & C. A. K. Lovell, 1999. "Profits and Productivity," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 45(9), pages 1177-1193, September.
    10. Troncoso, Juan J. & Garrido, Rodrigo A., 2005. "Forestry production and logistics planning: an analysis using mixed-integer programming," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 625-633, May.
    11. Carlsson, Dick & Ronnqvist, Mikael, 2005. "Supply chain management in forestry--case studies at Sodra Cell AB," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(3), pages 589-616, June.
    12. Kolstad, Charles D & Wolak, Frank A, Jr, 1983. "Competition in Interregional Taxation: The Case of Western Coal," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 91(3), pages 443-460, June.
    13. Schwarz, Hans-Gunter, 2006. "Economic materials-product chain models: Current status, further development and an illustrative example," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 373-392, June.
    14. Stoelhorst, J. W. & van Raaij, Erik M., 2004. "On explaining performance differentials: Marketing and the managerial theory of the firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 462-477, May.
    15. Johnsen, D Bruce, 1991. "Property Rights to Cartel Rents: The Socony-Vacuum Story," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(1), pages 177-203, April.
    16. Toivonen, Ritva & Toppinen, Anne & Tilli, Tapio, 2002. "Integration of roundwood markets in Austria, Finland and Sweden," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 33-42, May.
    17. Thorsten Hens, 1997. "Exchange rates and perfect competition," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 65(2), pages 151-161, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marius Hasslinger & Michael Olbrich & David Rapp, 2017. "Concerned about Going Concern: When do Entities in Liquidation have to be Considered a Non-Going Concern According to IFRS?," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(1), pages 31-61.
    2. Roy, Subroto & Sivakumar, K., 2010. "Innovation generation in upstream and downstream business relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(12), pages 1356-1363, December.
    3. Glenn Parry & Oscar Bustinza & Ferran Vendrell-Herrero & Nicholas O’Regan, 2016. "Internationalization of Product-Service Systems: Global, Regional or National Strategy?," Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 16-29.
    4. Scuotto, Veronica & Garcia-Perez, Alexeis & Nespoli, Chiara & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2020. "A repositioning organizational knowledge dynamics by functional upgrading and downgrading strategy in global value chain," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Venn, Tyron J. & Dorries, Jack W. & McGavin, Robert L., 2021. "A mathematical model to support investment in veneer and LVL manufacturing in subtropical eastern Australia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Melo, M.T. & Nickel, S. & Saldanha-da-Gama, F., 2009. "Facility location and supply chain management - A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 196(2), pages 401-412, July.
    3. Bordón, Maximiliano R. & Montagna, Jorge M. & Corsano, Gabriela, 2018. "An exact mathematical formulation for the optimal log transportation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 115-122.
    4. Schwab, Olaf & Bull, Gary & Maness, Thomas, 2005. "A mill-specific roundwood demand equation for southern and central Finland," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 95-106, September.
    5. Marco A. Janssen & Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh, 2000. "Optimal Multi-Regional Patterns of Economic Development and Material Resource Use," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 00-012/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    6. Bjork, Kaj-Mikael & Carlsson, Christer, 2007. "The effect of flexible lead times on a paper producer," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(1), pages 139-150, May.
    7. Alcaraz, Carlo & Villalvazo, Sergio, 2017. "The effect of natural gas shortages on the Mexican economy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 147-153.
    8. Guy Michaels, 2011. "The Long Term Consequences of Resource‐Based Specialisation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(551), pages 31-57, March.
    9. Thorvaldur Gylfason, 2019. "Inequality Undermines Democracy and Growth," CESifo Working Paper Series 7486, CESifo.
    10. Ftiti, Zied & Aguir, Abdelkader & Smida, Mounir, 2017. "Time-inconsistency and expansionary business cycle theories: What does matter for the central bank independence–inflation relationship?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 215-227.
    11. T.S. Veeman & J. Politylo, 2003. "The Role of Institutions and Policy in Enhancing Sustainable Development and Conserving Natural Capital," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 317-332, September.
    12. Ahumada, Omar & Rene Villalobos, J. & Nicholas Mason, A., 2012. "Tactical planning of the production and distribution of fresh agricultural products under uncertainty," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 17-26.
    13. Brahmbhatt, Milan & Canuto, Otaviano & Vostroknutova, Ekaterina, 2010. "Dealing with Dutch Disease," World Bank - Economic Premise, The World Bank, issue 16, pages 1-7, June.
    14. MENNA, Khaled, 2016. "الاقتصاد السياسي للإصلاحات في الدول الغنية بالموارد الطبيعية: دروس مستقاة من التجربة الجزائرية [The Political Economy of Reforms in Rich Natural Resources Countries: Lessons Driven from the Algeria," MPRA Paper 85385, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Ernest Aryeetey & Ishmael Ackah, 2018. "The boom, the bust, and the dynamics of oil resource management in Ghana," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-89, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    16. Rosen Azad Chowdhury & Dilshad Jahan & Tapas Mishra & Mamata Parhi, 2023. "A Quality Dimension? A Re-appraisal of Financial Development and Economic Growth Nexus in a Quality-Quantity Setting," Working Papers 2023-02, Swansea University, School of Management.
    17. Dixon, Peter B. & Rimmer, Maureen & McDonald, Daina & McDaniel, Christine A. & Balistreri, Edward J. & Johnson, Kyle & Wong, Eina V., 2002. "USAGE: Data and Parameters," Conference papers 331021, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    18. Franziska Holz, Christian von Hirschhausen and Claudia Kemfert, 2009. "Perspectives of the European Natural Gas Markets Until 2025," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Special I), pages 137-150.
    19. Carlos Morales, 2011. "Variedades de recursos naturales y crecimiento económico," Revista Desarrollo y Sociedad, Universidad de los Andes,Facultad de Economía, CEDE, December.
    20. Andrew Sharpe & Bert Waslander, 2014. "The Impact of the Oil Boom on Canada's Labour Productivity Performance," CSLS Research Reports 2014-05, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:61:y:2008:i:6:p:669-677. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.