The Vertical Organization of Industry: Systems Competition versus Component Competition

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economics & Management Strategy
Year: 1998
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Pages: 143-182

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

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.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:jemstr:v:7:y:1998:i:2:p:143-182
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25