The Vertical Organization of Industry: Systems Competition versus Component Competition
We discuss two contrasting styles of vertical organization of complementary activities or components in an industry: systems competition versus component competition. When firms' competencies differ, systems competition is not a perfect substitute for component competition, even with Bertmnd behavior. Costs, prices, industry profits, and the distribution of those profits among firms all differ between the two styles of organization. Moreover, firms' profit incentives do not generally guide them towards the socially efficient form of vertical organization. In duopoly, there is a bias towards open organization (component competition), but with enough firms (three or more, in an exponential example) this bias is reversed. Copyright (c) 1998 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Year of publication: |
1998
|
---|---|
Authors: | Farrell, Joseph ; Monroe, Hunter K. ; Saloner, Garth |
Published in: |
Journal of Economics & Management Strategy. - Wiley Blackwell. - Vol. 7.1998, 2, p. 143-182
|
Publisher: |
Wiley Blackwell |
Saved in:
freely available
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
The vertical organization of industry : systems competition versus component competition
Farrell, Joseph, (1998)
-
The Vertical Organization of Industry: Systems Competition versus Component Competition
Farrell, Joseph, (1998)
-
Farrell, Joseph, (1986)
- More ...