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Abstract
In international food markets, voluntary traceability systems have increased
their role in guaranteeing high safety and quality standards for the consumer. Such
systems are also among the strategies firms employ to differentiate products and
strengthen competitive advantage in both the national and international market.
Voluntary traceability has significant implications on the organisation of economic
relationships within food supply chains. This paper focuses on this aspect and analyses
the effects of voluntary traceability on vertical co- ordination using a transaction cost
perspective. The analysis makes reference to the Italian situation where the national
standard organisation has introduced standard rules for voluntary traceability (UNI
10939; ISO 22005 at the international level).
A survey was conducted by questionnaire to assess changes in transaction key factors
(degree of asset specificity, uncertainty and frequency) and transaction costs after the
introduction of voluntary traceability. The sample represent s all Italian firms certified
UNI 10939, and consists of 190 firms. Respondents are 146. Factorial and Cluster
Analyses were applied to highlight groups of firms with similar features. The empirical
results reveal four different clusters in terms of a vertical reorganisation of transactions.