We show that intermediate goods can be sourced to firms on the quot;outsidequot; (that do not compete in the final product market), even when there are no economies of scale or cost advantages for these firms. What drives the phenomenon is that quot;insidequot; firms, by accepting such orders,...

We demonstrate that a downstream firm (an incumbent) may source to an upstream firm (a potential entrant) for the sole purpose of entry deterrence. The reason is that, on the one hand, as a supplier, the potential entrant would have a second mover's disadvantage upon its entry into the...