Retail chains are observed in many industries. The question addressed here is whether retail chains can exploit buyer power by excluding some brands. In a theoretical model with two differentiated producers and a single retailer, we show that a retailer will require exclusivity (exclude a brand)...

Two producers delegate sales of differentiated products to common retailers, each with a monopoly position. Each producer can offer either a linear or a two-part tariff. In the single period game each producer's dominant strategy is to use a two-part tariff. If the two producers' products are...

The article examines how the existence of a retailer owned brand, private label, effects the price setting of a national brand.

New regulation for the EU automobile industry allows dealers to engage in multifranchise operation, a practice that formerly could be prohibited by the producers in this market. We argue that a likely consequence of thsi shift in regulatory regime is increased dealer concentration. This will...

The article offers a complementary theory for conglomerate mergers. Conglomerate mergers take place to achieve control over distribution channels that otherwise could be used by rival entrants. An entrant with a very differentiated product is accommodated, and an entrant with a close substitute...

The paper studies the performance of joint ventures where upstream firms sell inputs to a production joint venture. It is found that joint ventures lead to overinvoicing of input prices (transfer prices) compared to integrated firms resulting in lower aggregate profits. Tax and tariff policy may...

It is well-known that switching costs may facilitate monopoly pricing in a market with price competition between two suppliers of a homogenous good, provided the switching cost is above some critical level. With heterogeneous consumers monopoly pricing entails second degree price dierentiotation...

We study the performance of jointly owned production units where upstream firms sell inputs to a downstream final market producer. It is found that, compared to integrated firms, co-ownership leads to overinvoicing of input prices (transfer prices), resulting in lower aggregate profits. Tax and...

I analyse producers' choice of optimal distribution systems ina setting with two producers of differential products and two identical retailers.