Purpose – This paper reflects on the evolution of China's drug distribution industry from the planned economy era to the most recent dramatic shift, with a major focus on the analysis of the government's efforts of centralizing the drug distribution channel through adoption of e‐bidding...

New institutional economics suggests that the development of institutions and the existence of transaction costs are important determinants of the speed and success of the transition from command to market systems. Investigates the development of hog marketing channels in Poland during...

Using an analysis of marketing margins and the key dimensions of long‐term buyer‐seller relationships, it is possible to demonstrate that the supply chain for potatoes cultivated in the Red River Delta (Vietnam) is surprisingly efficient. While the prices paid to farmers are ultimately...

Purpose – The paper seeks to understand the conditions that motivate Asian supermarkets' choices for vegetable sourcing through wholesale procurement or preferred supplier systems. Design/methodology/approach – Insights from transaction cost theory are used to analyze the evolution of fresh...

The adoption of third party logistics is becoming widespread in the industry. Discusses various definitions of third party logistics and the theoretical background for the development of third party arrangements, including both transaction cost theory and network theory. A theoretical framework...

Purpose – Existing literature indicates that transaction costs are a major contributor to high interest rates on microcredit loans. The purpose of the study was to examine the composition of transaction costs to be able to draw implications on how lending rates in microcredit could be reduced...

Purpose – This paper aims to explore management control structure change related to the development of a shared service centre (SSC). Design/methodology/approach – The paper explores a transaction costs economics perspective (TCE‐perspective) on management control structure change related...

Purpose – This paper argues that the recent rise in China Dutch trade is a typical example of two nations trading tasks rather than goods. Design/methodology/approach – China Dutch trade growth between 1996 and 2010 is compared with China's trade growth with its main partners. In addition,...

Transaction logging has been used extensively in Okapi‐related projects to allow search algorithms and user interfaces to be investigated, evaluated and compared. Logging software may be independent of the system being examined, or integrated with it. Logging is undertaken for various...

Looks fundamentally at the reasons for vertical integration. Specifically addresses the question of why vertical integration and close contractual equivalents have arisen in the petrol and brewing sectors of the UK. Reports the results of a comparative case study. Considers the ability of power...