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  • © 2010

Relational Supply Contracts

Optimal Concessions in Return Policies for Continuous Quality Improvements

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems (LNE, volume 629)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages 1-14
  2. Introduction

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 1-17
  3. Literature Review on Supply Chain Contracts

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 19-34
  4. Relational Contracts

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 35-54
  5. Relational Contracts and Optimal Quantity Flexibility

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 55-75
  6. Relational Contracts and Optimal Buy-Back Price

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 77-88
  7. Conclusion and Outlook

    • Michaela Isabel Höhn
    Pages 109-110
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 1-11

About this book

Supply relations are often governed by so-called relational contracts. These are informal agreements sustained by the value of future cooperation. Although relational contracts persist in practice, research on these types of contract is only emerging in Operations and Supply Chain Management. This book studies a two-firm supply chain, where repeated transactions via well-established supply contracts and continued quality-improvement efforts are governed by a relational contract. We are able to characterize an optimal relational contract, i.e., to develop policies for supplier and buyer that structure investments in quality and flexibility in a way that no other self-enforcing contract generates higher expected joint surplus. A second goal is to compare the performance of different returns mechanisms in the context of relational contracting (quantity flexibility and buy-back contracts). Industry studies motivate the presented model.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Porsche Consulting GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany

    Michaela Isabel Höhn

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access