IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/mgtdec/v46y2025i4p2144-2180.html

Make‐or‐buy decisions in vertically differentiated input markets

Author

Listed:
  • Duarte Brito
  • Markos Tselekounis

Abstract

We study the optimal regulatory policy when two qualitatively differentiated upstream inputs are available. We consider a setting where a vertically integrated incumbent invests in upgrading the quality of the basic upstream input it owns, whereas a rival entrant chooses between making its own upgraded input and buying either input from the incumbent at regulated prices. We show that each of the three options available for the entrant can be socially optimal, depending on the investment cost parameters. However, the socially optimal input pricing policy is quite unlikely to resolve the trade‐off between promoting welfare and encouraging investment in quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Duarte Brito & Markos Tselekounis, 2025. "Make‐or‐buy decisions in vertically differentiated input markets," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(4), pages 2144-2180, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:46:y:2025:i:4:p:2144-2180
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.4077
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.4077
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/mde.4077?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brito, Duarte & Tselekounis, Markos, 2016. "Access regulation and the entrant's mode of entry under multi-product competition in telecoms," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 20-33.
    2. Marc Bourreau & Carlo Cambini & Pınar Doğan, 2014. "Access regulation and the transition from copper to fiber networks in telecoms," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 233-258, June.
    3. Philip Gayle & Dennis Weisman, 2007. "Are input prices irrelevant for make-or-buy decisions?," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 195-207, October.
    4. Jan F. Killmer, 2023. "Who leaps first: Status quo of the leapfrogging phenomenon," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(7), pages 4027-4040, October.
    5. Bourreau, Marc & Cambini, Carlo & Doğan, Pınar, 2012. "Access pricing, competition, and incentives to migrate from “old” to “new” technology," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 713-723.
    6. Flacher, David & Jennequin, Hugues, 2014. "Access regulation and geographic deployment of a new generation infrastructure," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 741-759.
    7. Bourreau, Marc & Lupi, Paolo & Manenti, Fabio M., 2014. "Old technology upgrades, innovation, and competition in vertically differentiated markets," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 10-31.
    8. Foros, Oystein, 2004. "Strategic investments with spillovers, vertical integration and foreclosure in the broadband access market," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 1-24, January.
    9. David Flacher & Hugues Jennequin, 2014. "Access regulation and geographic deployment of a new generation infrastructure," Post-Print hal-02391280, HAL.
    10. Bouckaert, Jan & van Dijk, Theon & Verboven, Frank, 2010. "Access regulation, competition, and broadband penetration: An international study," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 661-671, December.
    11. Brito, Duarte & Pereira, Pedro & Vareda, João, 2012. "Incentives to invest and to give access to non-regulated new technologies," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 197-211.
    12. Katz, Michael L & Shapiro, Carl, 1985. "Network Externalities, Competition, and Compatibility," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(3), pages 424-440, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Brito, Duarte & Tselekounis, Markos, 2016. "Access regulation and the entrant's mode of entry under multi-product competition in telecoms," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 20-33.
    2. Keizo Mizuno & Ichiro Yoshino, 2015. "Overusing a bypass under cost-based access regulation: underinvestment with spillovers," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 29-57, February.
    3. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Cambini, Carlo & Grajek, Michał, 2018. "Speeding up the internet: Regulation and investment in the European fiber optic infrastructure," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 613-652.
    4. Tselekounis, Markos & Varoutas, Dimitris & Martakos, Drakoulis, 2014. "A CDS approach to induce facilities-based competition over NGA networks," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 311-331.
    5. Flacher, David & Jennequin, Hugues, 2014. "Access regulation and geographic deployment of a new generation infrastructure," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 741-759.
    6. Vitor Miguel Ribeiro, 2018. "Dark fiber price regulation in the absence of facilities-based competition," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 45(2), pages 243-278, June.
    7. Tselekounis, Markos & Orfanou, Georgia & Varoutas, Dimitris, 2014. "Coexistence of copper and fiber unbundling: Access charges and investment incentives," 25th European Regional ITS Conference, Brussels 2014 101400, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    8. Tselekounis, Markos & Xylogianni, Eirini & Varoutas, Dimitris & Martakos, Drakoulis, 2013. "Geographically differentiated NGA deployment," 24th European Regional ITS Conference, Florence 2013 88533, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    9. Eltges, Fabian & Fourberg, Niklas & Wiewiorra, Lukas, 2022. "From legacy to the future: Incentivising demand migration through access fees," WIK Working Papers 3a, WIK Wissenschaftliches Institut für Infrastruktur und Kommunikationsdienste GmbH, Bad Honnef.
    10. Briglauer Wolfgang & Frübing Stefan & Vogelsang Ingo, 2014. "The Impact of Alternative Public Policies on the Deployment of New Communications Infrastructure – A Survey," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 13(3), pages 227-270, September.
    11. Bourreau, Marc & Lupi, Paolo & Manenti, Fabio M., 2014. "Old technology upgrades, innovation, and competition in vertically differentiated markets," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 10-31.
    12. Tselekounis, Markos & Varoutas, Dimitris, 2013. "Investments in next generation access infrastructures under regulatory uncertainty," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 879-892.
    13. Bourreau, Marc & Grzybowski, Lukasz & Hasbi, Maude, 2019. "Unbundling the incumbent and deployment of high-speed internet: Evidence from France," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Vogelsang Ingo, 2013. "The Endgame of Telecommunications Policy? A Survey," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 64(3), pages 193-270, December.
    15. Marc Bourreau & Carlo Cambini & Pınar Doğan, 2014. "Access regulation and the transition from copper to fiber networks in telecoms," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 233-258, June.
    16. Joan Calzada & Begoña García-Mariñoso & Jordi Ribé & Rafael Rubio & David Suárez, 2018. "Fiber deployment in Spain," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 256-274, June.
    17. Hoernig, Steffen & Cambini, Carlo, 2013. "Cooperative Investment, Uncertainty and Access," CEPR Discussion Papers 9376, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    18. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Cambini, Carlo & Fetzer, Thomas & Hüschelrath, Kai, 2017. "The European Electronic Communications Code: A critical appraisal with a focus on incentivizing investment in next generation broadband networks," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 948-961.
    19. Eltges, Fabian & Fourberg, Niklas & Wiewiorra, Lukas, 2022. "Copper to Fibre Migration: Regulated Access Fees Incentivising Migration," 31st European Regional ITS Conference, Gothenburg 2022: Reining in Digital Platforms? Challenging monopolies, promoting competition and developing regulatory regimes 265623, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    20. Briglauer, Wolfgang & Gugler, Klaus & Haxhimusa, Adhurim, 2016. "Facility- and service-based competition and investment in fixed broadband networks: Lessons from a decade of access regulations in the European Union member states," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 729-742.

    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:wly:mgtdec:v:46:y:2025:i:4:p:2144-2180. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/7976 .

    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.