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The Organization of Supply: a Vertical Equilibrium Analysis

Author

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  • Nadav Levy
Abstract
In this paper I study how the make-or-buy decision of a firm depends on the organization of its peers. I consider a multi-firm framework in which firms choose whether to integrate into the supply of an intermediate input or to outsource its production, and choose the size of their supplier network if outsourcing. Firms find it optimal to share the same set of suppliers, as there are economies of scope in investment to suppliers taking multiple designs. These economies are due to spillovers of technical or operational know-how between projects and to savings in the setup costs on physical capital. The model admits multiple vertical equilibria that are Pareto-ranked, the one with the highest level of outsourcing being most efficient. Outsourcing is more likely in larger markets and when the economies of scope are stronger. The size of the optimal supplier network however typically decreases when the spillovers are stronger. These findings provide an insight to the patterns of reorganization of vertical supply relations observed over the last two decades

Suggested Citation

  • Nadav Levy, 2004. "The Organization of Supply: a Vertical Equilibrium Analysis," Econometric Society 2004 North American Summer Meetings 142, Econometric Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecm:nasm04:142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Oliver Lorz & Matthias Wrede, 2008. "Standardization of intermediate goods and international trade," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(2), pages 517-536, May.
    2. João Teixeira, 2014. "Outsourcing with long term contracts: capital structure and product market competition effects," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 327-356, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    utsourcing; Vertical Integration; Spillovers; Supply relations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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