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Review of Economic Studies Vol. 72 No. 1 2005

Outsourcing in a Global Economy

Gene M. Grossman1; Elhanan Helpman2,3

1 Princeton University · 2 Harvard University · 3 Tel Aviv University

open access

Abstract

We study the determinants of the location of subcontracted activity in a general equilibrium model of outsourcing and trade. We model outsourcing as an activity that requires search for a partner and relationship-specific investments that are governed by incomplete contracts. The extent of international outsourcing depends inter alia on the thickness of the domestic and foreign market for input suppliers, the relative cost of searching in each market, the relative cost of customizing inputs and the nature of the contracting environment in each country.

DOI
10.1111/0034-6527.00327
Volume
72
Issue
1
Pages
135-159
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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