Vertical relations, opportunism, and welfare

A-Tier
Journal: RAND Journal of Economics
Year: 2019
Volume: 50
Issue: 2
Pages: 342-358

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

This article revisits the opportunism problem faced by an upstream monopolist contracting with several retailers over secret agreements, when contracts are linear. We characterize the equilibrium under secret contracts and compare it to that under public contracts in a setting allowing for general forms of demand and retail competition. Market distortions are more severe under secret contracts if and only if retailers' instruments are strategic complements. We also investigate the effect of opportunism on firms' profits. Our results remain robust whether retailers hold passive or wary beliefs. We derive some implications for the antitrust analysis of information exchange between firms.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:randje:v:50:y:2019:i:2:p:342-358
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25