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# Optimal coalition structures in supply chains: a cooperative game approach to economic lot-sizing in emerging markets

## Details

**Authors** Razghandi et al.

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Operations Management Research

**Discipline** Operations Research

**Secondary disciplines** Business & Management

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063-026-00616-w) 
10.1007/s12063-026-00616-w

## In authors' words

### What they found (results)

A mixed-integer least-core cooperative-game model, tested on Iran's rebar retail industry and validated with Design of Experiments, found optimal stable coalition formation and the greatest social-welfare improvement occurred when demand was high across periods and joint ordering secured the lowest supplier price.

## Commentary

### In short

Independent parts (autonomous retailers) combine into a whole (a stable coalition) whose emergent social-welfare outcome exceeds what any part achieves alone.

**Patterns it shows** S

**Added** 2026-09-08

**How to cite this** Razghandi et al. (2026). Optimal coalition structures in supply chains: a cooperative game approach to economic lot-sizing in emerging markets. Operations Management Research.