Within agri-industry chains, important changes have taken place. Both vertical integration and vertical disintegration are occurring. These transformations may have effects on the adoption of private standards, but more importantly, may also affect the functions of private standards within the...

In this paper, I address the issue of contractual networks in the European context. The term "contractual networks" encompasses both multilateral contracts and networks of linked bilateral contracts. Contractual networks are hybrid forms of organisation located between markets and hierarchies....

The paper examines the architecture of contracting and the instruments to control the exercise and the abuse of private regulatory power along supply chains. The design of the contractual architecture and its implementation may cause significant unfairness in power distribution that can...