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Optimal Pricing and Inventory Planning with Charitable Donations

Author

Listed:
  • Leon Yang Chu

    (Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

  • Guang Li

    (Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Paat Rusmevichientong

    (Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

Abstract

Problem definition : This paper investigates firms’ optimal operational decisions and after-tax profits with regard to tax deduction for charitable donations. Academic/practical relevance : Motivated by the steady growth in noncash donations from U.S. companies, our work is the first to provide theoretical guidance on operational planning under tax deduction for both precommitted donations and end-of-season donations. Methodology : We analyze the impact of tax deduction for a profit-driven firm under a two-period price-markdown newsvendor model and characterize the firm’s optimal price and quantity decisions. Results : The firm’s optimal donation behavior is driven by two factors—fixed cost and demand uncertainty. Specifically, a positive fixed cost can induce precommitted donation during the regular selling season, and demand uncertainty can induce end-of-season donation during the clearance period. Managerial insights : The enhanced tax deduction that is designed to encourage charitable donations results in unexpected behavior by the firm. For example, the firm’s optimal clearance price can increase with the amount of leftover inventory, and the firm’s optimal after-tax profit can increase as the tax rate increases. While the value of the deduction is tied to the fair market value (and the price) of the product, surprisingly, the firm may find it more profitable to charge a lower price, because the lower price may scale up the demand uncertainty and consequently increase the expected tax subsidy under the enhanced tax deduction. Our analysis reveals important insights about the impact of the tax law on a monopolist’s optimal operational decisions and profit.

Suggested Citation

  • Leon Yang Chu & Guang Li & Paat Rusmevichientong, 2018. "Optimal Pricing and Inventory Planning with Charitable Donations," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 687-703, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormsom:v:20:y:2018:i:4:p:v
    DOI: 10.1287/msom.2017.0676
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gérard P. Cachon & A. Gürhan Kök, 2007. "Implementation of the Newsvendor Model with Clearance Pricing: How to (and How Not to) Estimate a Salvage Value," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 9(3), pages 276-290, October.
    2. Wenqiang Xiao & Vernon N. Hsu & Qiaohai (Joice) Hu, 2015. "Manufacturing Capacity Decisions with Demand Uncertainty and Tax Cross-Crediting," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 17(3), pages 384-398, July.
    3. Woonghee Tim Huh & Kun Soo Park, 2013. "Impact of transfer pricing methods for tax purposes on supply chain performance under demand uncertainty," Naval Research Logistics (NRL), John Wiley & Sons, vol. 60(4), pages 269-293, June.
    4. Masha Shunko & Laurens Debo & Srinagesh Gavirneni, 2014. "Transfer Pricing and Sourcing Strategies for Multinational Firms," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 23(12), pages 2043-2057, December.
    5. Morris A. Cohen & Suman Mallik, 1997. "Global Supply Chains: Research And Applications," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 6(3), pages 193-210, September.
    6. Anil Arya & Brian Mittendorf, 2015. "Supply Chain Consequences of Subsidies for Corporate Social Responsibility," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 24(8), pages 1346-1357, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Atalay Atasu & Charles J. Corbett & Ximin (Natalie) Huang & L. Beril Toktay, 2020. "Sustainable Operations Management Through the Perspective of Manufacturing & Service Operations Management," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 146-157, January.
    2. Georgia Perakis & Melvyn Sim & Qinshen Tang & Peng Xiong, 2023. "Robust Pricing and Production with Information Partitioning and Adaptation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(3), pages 1398-1419, March.
    3. Nur Ayvaz Çavdaroğlu, 2020. "Joint Pricing and Ordering Problem with Charitable Donations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Özbilge, Armağan & Hassini, Elkafi & Parlar, Mahmut, 2024. "Optimal pricing and donation policy for fresh goods," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 312(1), pages 198-210.
    5. Xu, Xianhao & Chen, Cheng & Zou, Bipan & Wang, Hongwei & Li, Zhiwen, 2023. "Shipping before order making: Optimal shipping quantity and pricing decisions under uncertain demand," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    6. Huang, Guoxuan & Zheng, Benrong & Zou, Bipan & Cheng, T.C.E., 2022. "Strategic role of charitable donation in supply chain coordination with consumer prosocial preference," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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