Title

Commitments and Contests: A Game- theoretic Perspective on Japanese Vertical Relationships

Abstract

Various arrangements in vertical relationships have evolved in different countries to attain efficient trading relationships. Vertical relationships in Japan can be identified to have distinctive characteristics in several aspects compared with those in other countries. This study is a comprehensive understanding of Japanese vertical relationships based on the economic theory, particularly game theory and various empirical findings. Insights on the efficiency and governance mechanisms of the vertical relationships can be gained by investigating various arrangements of the vertical relationships from a game-theoretic perspective.

Kenji KOJIMA
Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration
Kobe University
Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe
657-8501 Japan
Phone: (81) 78 803 7036
Fax: (81) 78 803 7059