By engaging in specific investments a firm may develop a unique competence value for its partner, which makes the partners mutually dependent. This may neutralize any hold-up risk of an opportunistic partner that is tempted to exploit the dependence and appropriate a greater share of the value...

We explore the ways that component suppliers in a traditional US manufacturing region (Cleveland) have responded to their customers' demands for improved quality, cost, and delivery. We find that a surprising number (almost a third) have not responded by attempting systematic improvements in...