Hold-up problem

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I'll be very grateful if someone could help me find a synonym expression for "hold-up" so I can find a translation for it.

In economic jargon, a hold-up problem happens when in a relationship between two parties, one of them can take advantage of the other without the other being able to avoid it.

The most common example of a hold-up problem is this: For a specific buyer it's too costly to switch suppliers and has to buy from his regular supplier, who takes advantage of this situation by raising the price of his products.

Anyone? :)

[chileno]

retrasar?

suspender?

[JPablo]

How about,
stop, delay; hindrance, postponement ?
Or DELAY, setback, hitch, snag, difficulty, problem, trouble; traffic jam, tailback, gridlock; snarl-up, glitch, hiccup. ?

¿Paralización? ¿Punto muerto?

(Not totally sure in your context...)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thanks both, but I'm not sure any form of "delay" works here... :thinking:
I think it's not a matter of when one party will "break free" from the other, but the fact that one can actually take advantage and the other cannot change that. :(

[chileno]

Ah!

Restricción? :)

[poli]

Hold up problem is a term I have never heard. If I understand the term corrrectly, I'm sure you can use caught up in a bind--but then, you would have to explain the circumstances of the bind.
I'm caught up in a bind with my supplyer. I know if I choose a different company costs would be less. but...

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Hernán: No exactamente... para restricción hay otra jerga, pero se agradece. :rose:

@Poli: You've never heard it like that because it's economics jargon, but
your idea has lead me to Mexican slang "estar agarrado", which gives the idea of being stuck in a situation you can't change, and that someone is taking advantage of you. Thank you!! :kiss:
My buyer here can't choose a different supplier because although prices of the products would be lower, the costs of breaking the contract with the old company, searching for a new one, signing up a new contract, etc., would be much higher (in time, efforts and money), so they have to stick to the supplier who's raising his prices. ;(

[poli]

I'm glad I can help you. You are always helpful to me and others.

[Pindar]

Late to the game, but from the description you gave at the beginning, I think the expression 'hold up' is derived from 'hold up' as in robbing someone, as in this (http://twoweeksonedate.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/hold-up-1985-6810-420630432.jpg). ('hold up" and "stick up" both come from what the victim does with his arms: he holds them up in the air or sticks them up in the air). What is the Spanish for 'hold up' in the sense of a robbery? And would that work in your case?

We do say things like this in English:

How'd that deal work out?
Work out? It was a hold up. There was nothing I could do but go along with the bastard.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Oh, that makes sense now. Thank you very much, Pindar. You have helped me a lot. :rose: