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Determinants of firm boundaries: Empirical analysis of the Japanese auto industry from 1984 to 2002

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  • Nagaoka, Sadao
  • Takeishi, Akira
  • Noro, Yoshihisa

Abstract

Using the framework of contract economics, we assess the determinants of the choice of vertical integration, relational contracting (keiretsu sourcing) or market sourcing by seven Japanese automobile manufacturers (OEMs) with respect to 54 components. Our major findings are as follows. First, the specificity of a component significantly promotes keiretsu over market sourcing. This effect declines with the testability of the component, consistent with transaction cost economics. Second, the interdependency of a component makes vertical integration significantly preferred to keiretsu sourcing, while the specificity of the component does not. These results suggest that the hold-up risk due to specific investment can often be effectively controlled by relational contracting based on keiretsu sourcing, while accommodating non-contractible design changes may often require vertical integration. Third, high testability of a component significantly promotes the choice of keiretsu over market sourcing. One interpretation of this result is that a keiretsu supplier may have both the incentive to gather information for quality improvement in an environment of high testability, and the incentive to share the information with the OEM for its implementation. J. Japanese Int. Economies 22 (2) (2008) 187-206.

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  • Nagaoka, Sadao & Takeishi, Akira & Noro, Yoshihisa, 2008. "Determinants of firm boundaries: Empirical analysis of the Japanese auto industry from 1984 to 2002," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 187-206, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:22:y:2008:i:2:p:187-206
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    Cited by:

    1. Genjiro Kosaka & Koichi Nakagawa & Seiji Manabe & Mizuki Kobayashi, 2020. "The vertical keiretsu advantage in the era of Westernization in the Japanese automobile industry: investigation from transaction cost economics and a resource-based view," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 36-61, February.
    2. Luo, Jianxi, 2018. "Architecture and evolvability of innovation ecosystems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 132-144.
    3. Michal ?indelá? & Barbora Janasová, 2020. "Are accounting services threatened by moving to shared service centers? - An empirical evidence of czech companies," International Journal of Economic Sciences, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, vol. 9(2), pages 111-127, December.
    4. NISHITATENO Shuhei, 2015. "Market Structure and Entry: Evidence from the intermediate goods market," Discussion papers 15081, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures

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