網絡整合能力、委外比率與國際貿易

CAPABILITY OF NETWORK INTEGRATION FRACTION OF OUTSOURCED TASKS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE

本文建構異質性廠商模型將網絡整合能力、委外比率與生產力建立連結，以探討國際貿易等因素對廠商委外決策的影響。最終廠商可以藉 由委外代工獲取供應商的生產優勢，但需要投入額外的整合成本，委外比率與最終廠商的網絡整合能力都會影響這項成本。最終廠商要決定的是委外比率，並經由這項決策同時決定廠商的生產力。本文的主要結論是，貿易自由化促使高能力廠商提高委外比率，但卻同時縮減低能力廠商的委外規模。此外，發展網絡整合能力可以穩固地將供應商技術進步的成果，轉化為提升競爭優勢的來源。最後，整合技術進步有助於提升所有廠商的委外活動。

In a model where the fraction of outsourced tasks is linked to capability of network integration and observed productivity, I investigate how trade of the final goods and changes in technological parameters affect firms’ outsourcing decisions. Since suppliers are better at performing tasks than final producers, outsourcing increases firm productivity. However, integration costs which increase with outsourced tasks and decrease with firms’ capability are required for outsourcing. This model shows that trade liberalization affects firms with different capability levels differently. Firms with higher capability enlarge the set of outsourced tasks in response to tougher competition, while those with lower capability cut their proportion of outsourced inputs. Furthermore, improvements in suppliers’ technology definitely benefit firms with higher capability. Finally, radical progress in integration technology facilitates outsourcing of all firms by increasing the fraction of tasks produced by suppliers.