Under The New Economic Conditions, The Vertical Boundary,

How wide is the scale of the firm and where is the frontier of the firm are always important economic issues, and the theory of vertical boundary is always an important part of firm theory. In the earlier periods of last century, vertical integration is the main form of the firm vertical boundary. In the later period of the 20th century, an unprecedented information revolution swept across the whole world, and led to social revolution called " New Economy " which has changed panhuman social life and economic life deeply and various kinds of orders, rules and systems. Then under such a new historical condition, whether new change takes place in the firm vertical boundary modes and how is the trend of change are the issues we have to face and this dissertation will studies.The main logic of this dissertation is through a model about the firm vertical boundary to include various kinds of factors which influence the firm vertical boundary in it, and then analyze how these factors change and cause what movements of the firm vertical boundary under "new economy". This dissertation also concludes the general rules of firm vertical boundary changes through comparing two firm vertical boundary modes, and put forward suggestions according to the conclusion this dissertation.The dissertation is organized as follows. Part I is the introduction. This part mainly introduces the backgrounds and meaning of this topic, main research approach and frames. Part II defines the basic conception of firm vertical boundary, and summarizes the development of the firm vertical boundary theory. Part III is the foundation of research. This part confirms the selection principle of firm vertical boundary, specializes the factors that influence production costs and transaction costs, and then set up the model of firm vertical boundary selection. Part IV is the subject part of research. It first introduces the tide of vertical integration, and then analyzes the characteristicsof "new economy" and the impacts they impose on firm vertical boundary. After the analysis of theory and model, this dissertation concludes that firm vertical converse integration will replace firm vertical integration. Part V points out the general law of the changes of firm vertical boundary and puts forward the suggestion on firm's vertical boundary mode.. The specific feature of this dissertation is that it first explains firm vertical boundary changes under new economy systematically and theoretically. The main innovations can be summarized as following:1. Putting forward the definite issue of firm vertical converse integration under "new economy", offering theoretic explanation about it systematically, and concluding that supplier alliance will be the mode of firm vertical boundary.2.Comparing vertical integration and converse integration and concluding the general law of firm vertical boundary changes.3.Explaining the reasons of vertical boundary changes in research frame of Institutional Economics. Some relevant documents explain the issues around technique in the supplier alliance.