The effects of quality and substitutability on price competition in supply chains.

摘要

In this dissertation, we consider the effects of two factors: Quality and Substitutability of products on the behavior of agents in a supply chain.; In the quality-competition framework, single-period game models involving N suppliers and one retailer are proposed to study competition among the suppliers in choosing the wholesale price and the offered quality (through inspection). The effects of competition on equilibrium wholesale prices and on the quality of the product sold to the end customer is analyzed.; Three models are considered and compared that provide insights as to the most efficient way of inducing competition along the two dimensions of price and quality, from the point of view of the retailer and the end customer.; In the framework of product substitution, single-period models involving one/two suppliers and one retailer are analyzed. The effects of uncertainty and substitutability of demands and competition of suppliers on ordering and production policies are investigated.