The effects of downstream distributor chains on upstream producer entry: a bargaining perspective

This paper studies the effects of integration among downstream local distributors on the entry of upstream producers in a bargaining theoretic framework. We show that integration of downstream distributors may increase their bargaining power vis-à-vis upstream producers and thus lower incentives for entry in the upstream production industry. In order to explain price formation in such a market, we use a bargaining solution that generalizes the Nash solution.