A review of analytic models for fairness concerns in supply chain management

Fairness concerns play a critical role in supply chain management, influencing pricing strategies, decision-making, and stakeholder relationships. Although fairness concerns have gained significant attention in operations management studies, their formulations in mathematical models remain ambiguous. This paper examines 128 studies up to January 2025 and offers a comprehensive review of analytical models of fairness concerns in supply chains. We categorise fairness concerns into firm-based and consumer-based perspectives and examine their impact across different supply chain structures, game settings, and decision variables. Additionally, we discuss key modelling elements, including fairness metrics, reference points, subjects and objects of fairness concerns, equitable parameter settings, and the degree of concerns. Our review reveals that most existing studies primarily focus on distributive fairness and pricing issues in a dyadic vertical supply chain under a Stackelberg game framework while overlooking process fairness, fairness in multi-tier supply chains, dynamic settings, and information asymmetry and transparency. By critically analysing the existing literature, identifying research gaps, and suggesting future research directions, this review bridges fairness theory and supply chain practice, offering valuable insights for scholars, managers, and policymakers seeking to develop fairer and more sustainable supply chain systems.