Downstream Cross-Holdings and Upstream R&D: A Comment*

Abstract

According to Hu et al. [Journal of Industrial Economics, 70(3), pp. 775–789], downstream cross-holdings are permissible based on the social welfare standard if the investment technology in the upstream sector is highly inefficient. However, the conclusion of that paper relies on a definition of downstream producer surplus that is not so commonly found in the literature. After using a more commonly found definition of downstream producer surplus, this note demonstrates that downstream cross-holdings have detrimental impacts on both consumer surplus and social welfare, emphasizing the need for efficient and effective regulations on downstream cross-holdings in Hu et al. [Journal of Industrial Economics, 70(3), pp. 775–789] type economy.