Matching in the Sourcing Market: A Structural Analysis of the Upstream Channel

Ni, Jian, and Kannan Srinivasan. "Matching in the Sourcing Market: A Structural Analysis of the Upstream Channel." Marketing Science 34.5 (2015): 722-738.

47 Pages Posted: 17 Apr 2016

See all articles by Jian Ni

Jian Ni

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business

Kannan Srinivasan

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Date Written: March 2015

Abstract

Building upon the structural two-sided matching model, we develop a framework to study the sourcing market in the context of marketing firms matching with manufacturers. Both sides prefer partners that could generate significant values with better abilities in the sourcing process. Moreover, experienced manufacturers are preferred by the branded marketing firms who may be even willing to compensate the matching intermediary more for facilitating that. Empirical research, measuring the values of such matching and the intermediary’s pricing (through commission) on observed characteristics of the marketing firms and the low-cost manufacturers and the deals that result, is problematic, when some of the characteristics are only partially observed and the matching is endogenous. With the matching model, we can control for endogenous matching. We find evidence of positive assortative matching of pairs’ size on both sides of the market. We also find manufacturers’ location and tenure, and whether the marketing firms are listed or not, are important factors in identifying the preferred matching partners and the related ranking. Without controlling for the endogenous matching, the estimates of the intermediary’s pricing equation are biased, especially for the marketing firms that specialize in luxury products.

Keywords: Matching, sourcing, structural model, Bayesian estimation

Suggested Citation

Ni, Jian and Srinivasan, Kannan, Matching in the Sourcing Market: A Structural Analysis of the Upstream Channel (March 2015). Ni, Jian, and Kannan Srinivasan. "Matching in the Sourcing Market: A Structural Analysis of the Upstream Channel." Marketing Science 34.5 (2015): 722-738. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2761959

Jian Ni (Contact Author)

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business ( email )

1016 Pamplin Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/jiannicmu/

Kannan Srinivasan

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

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