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摘要
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This paper analyzes the impacts of
downstream CSR initiatives on upstream tacit collusion. By considering an
infinitely repeated game with trigger strategy punishment, we find that how
consumer-oriented CSR affects the stability of upstream collusion basically
hinges on the downstream competition mode. Specifically, the CSR initiatives
facilitate upstream collusion under downstream quantity competition, whereas
they hinder upstream collusion when downstream firms choose price contract. For
given degree of CSR initiatives and product substitutability, upstream
collusion is always less stable in the case of price competition. In
addition, we also supplement existing literature to show that in a vertical
market structure with the inclusion of downstream CSR initiatives; higher
degree of product substitutability obstructs collusion, regardless of
downstream competition mode.
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