Is it wise for competing firms to establish shared logistics alliances? A game analysis considering environmental sustainability and social welfare

The rapid development of e-commerce has prompted firms with logistics advantages to establish self-run logistics. However, ambiguity remains regarding whether firms with logistics disadvantages should join shared logistics alliances. To address this issue, this study investigates the optimal logistics choices of two competing firms through a game theory model. The results indicate that TPL has an incentive to enhance green technology levels and reduce logistics capacity constraints. Furthermore, when the TPL’s green technology level is low, the firm with logistics advantages is more likely to establish self-run logistics. Under certain conditions, the firm with logistics disadvantages joins the shared logistics alliance, leading to a win-win outcome for both parties. Notably, when the firm with logistics advantages has a low (high) unit environmental impact, the firm with logistics disadvantages choosing to join the shared logistics alliance will result in the smallest (largest) environmental impact, with social welfare reaching the highest (lowest) level. Therefore, the government must encourage firms with logistics advantages to invest in green technologies to reduce unit environmental impact and promote the establishment of shared logistics alliances to enhance environmental sustainability and social welfare. This research aims to provide theoretical guidance for firms’ logistics choices and the government’s policy guidelines.