A sustainable semiconductor supply chain under regulation

Abstract

Modern life would not exist without semiconductors as all electronic components used in computers, telecommunications, health care, transportation, and energy systems are equipped with chips. To examine both backward and forward activities in semiconductor industry, this paper formulates the industry as a closed-loop supply chain. It articulates how old semiconductors are processed and recycled to manufacture new silicon and chips, and examines the impact of a commonly applied subsidy scheme on the performance of semiconductor firms which operate in upstream and downstream layers of the industry. Specifically, the proposed semiconductor supply chain involves (i) a return function sensitive to monetary incentives; (ii) a subsidy legislation rewarding end-users for recycling; (iii) upstream industry where silicon is produced using virgin and scrap materials; (iv) downstream industry in which semiconductor manufacturers (such as TSMC, Samsung, Intel) buy silicon and other materials, hire workers, and then produce and sell chips. We characterize Stackelberg equilibrium silicon and semiconductor prices and outputs and calibrate model parameters using actual data to quantify the effects of subsidy and collection channels on silicon and semiconductor firms’ performance. We find that the subsidy scheme neither distorts firms’ strategies nor causes any inefficiency for the semiconductor industry. It stimulates circular economy activities and provides economic and environmental benefits.