A Study on The Impact of Low-carbon Dual-channel Supply Chain Decisions Based on Product Network Externalities

Abstract

In the low-carbon dual-channel supply chain system led by manufacturers, the influence of network externalities that products have on the reduction level of carbon emissions, product pricing, and optimal profit of each node firm is explored. Based on Stackelberg's game theory, a low-carbon dual-channel supply chain decision model with network externalities is constructed respectively in the centralized decision making and decentralized decision making, and the decision model is solved by using the inverse induction method. The study shows that under the centralized or decentralized decision mode, the carbon emission reduction level per unit product increases, the retail price and direct sales price of the product increases, and the overall profit of the low-carbon dual-channel supply chain increases as the product network externality increases; under the decentralized decision mode, the decision efficiency loss of the low-carbon dual-channel supply chain increases as the product network externality increases. Finally, according to the research findings, some suggestions are proposed for decision makers.