求NN们帮忙翻译一个句子！！！

clumsy123

With “indirect” purchases , which are not directly related to production, corporations often favor “supplier partnerships” which can inappropriately shelter suppliers from rigorous competitive scrutiny that might afford the purchaser  economic leverage.

是GWD1上的一篇阅读的句子，关键是不能理解那个economic leverage。。。能具体解释解释么。。。

clumsy123

人工顶= =

谁能解释下这个经济杠杆作用呗~在这句话里到底啥意思啊？