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Hold-up and Sequential Specific Investments

Author

Listed:
  • Vladimir Smirnov

    (University of Sydney)

  • Andrew Wait

    (University of Sydney)

Abstract

We explore the hold-up problem when parties can make investments simultaneously or sequentially. Sequencing of investments can allow some projects to proceed that would not be feasible with a simultaneous regime. However, a cost of sequencing is that it can disadvantage some parties, reducing their incentive to invest. The mere possibility of sequential investment can prevent trade from occurring; this can be interpreted as a new form of hold-up. If both parties prefer to invest second, as the number of potential investment periods is increased, the subgame-perfect equilibrium can switch between a prisoners' dilemma and a coordination game.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladimir Smirnov & Andrew Wait, 2004. "Hold-up and Sequential Specific Investments," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 35(2), pages 386-400, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:rje:randje:v:35:y:2004:2:p:386-400
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hart, Oliver D & Moore, John, 1988. "Incomplete Contracts and Renegotiation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 56(4), pages 755-785, July.
    2. Smirnov, Vladimir & Wait, Andrew, 2004. "Timing of investments, holdup and total welfare," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 413-425, March.
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    8. MacLeod, W Bentley & Malcomson, James M, 1993. "Investments, Holdup, and the Form of Market Contracts," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 83(4), pages 811-837, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Christa Hainz, 2007. "Business Groups in Emerging Markets: Financial Control and Sequential Investments," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 163(2), pages 336-355, June.
    3. Chen, Bin R. & Chiu, Y. Stephen, 2010. "Public-private partnerships: Task interdependence and contractibility," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 591-603, November.
    4. Shantia, Ali & Aflaki, Sam & Masini, Andrea, 2021. "Contracting for technology improvement: The effect of asymmetric bargaining power and investment uncertainty," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 293(2), pages 481-494.
    5. Еремеечева Мария Александровна, 2012. "Динамическое Взаимодействие В Условиях Последовательного (Неповторяемого) Инвестирования," Journal of Economic Regulation Journal of Economic Regulation (Вопросы регулирования экономики), CyberLeninka;Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «Гуманитарные перспективы», vol. 3(4), pages 44-58.
    6. Thomas Ehrmann & Karl-Hans Hartwig & Torsten Marner & Hendrik Schmale, 2009. "Specific Investments and Ownership Structures in Railways – An Experimental Analysis," Working Papers 12, Institute of Transport Economics, University of Muenster.
    7. Pascale Crama & Bert De Reyck & Niyazi Taneri, 2017. "Licensing Contracts: Control Rights, Options, and Timing," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(4), pages 1131-1149, April.
    8. Maxim Mai & Vladimir Smirnov & Andrew Wait, 2014. "Ownership, Access, and Sequential Investment," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 47(1), pages 203-231, February.
    9. B. Cesi & M. Lorusso, 2020. "Collusion in public procurement: the role of subcontracting," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(1), pages 251-265, April.
    10. Hogrebe, Fabian & Lutz, Eva, 2024. "The sunk cost fallacy in venture capital staging: Decision-making dynamics for follow-on investment rounds," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    11. Bin R. Chen & Y. Stephen Chiu, 2014. "Task Interdependence and Noncontractibility in Public-Good Provision," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 170(4), pages 731-748, December.
    12. Smirnov, Vladimir & Wait, Andrew, 2004. "Timing of investments, holdup and total welfare," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 413-425, March.
    13. Oll, Grete, 2014. "Opportunistic Disclosure in the Inter-Organizational Relationships," Discussion Papers on Economics 21/2014, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Economics.
    14. Ming-Chung Chang & Jin-Li Hu, 2009. "Inconsistent preferences in environmental protection investment and the central government's optimal policy," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 767-772.
    15. Дзагурова Наталия Борисовна & Невидомская Мария Александровна, 2015. "«Запаздывание» Специфических Инвестиций Как Временной Аналог Недоинвестирования," Journal of Institutional Studies Journal of Institutional Studies (Журнал институциональных исследований), CyberLeninka;Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «Гуманитарные перспективы», vol. 7(3), pages 76-91.
    16. AGRELL, Per & KASPERZEC, Roman, 2010. "Dynamic joint investments in supply chains under information asymmetry," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2010085, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D92 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice, Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games

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