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Suppose we have a commutative square $\require{AMScd}$ \begin{CD} A @>{f}>> B\\ @V{h}VV @V{k}VV \\ C @>{g}>> D \end{CD} of quasi-categories, such that $f,g,h,k$ are cofibrations in the Joyal model structure (i.e. these are monomorphisms of simplicial sets). Suppose further that $A,B,C,D$ have all finite coproducts, and that $f,g,h,k$ preserve these finite coproducts. Let $E$ be the homotopy pushout of $f$ along $h$ in the Joyal model structure. Assume that $E$ is a quasi-category. Does $E$ have all finite coproducts, and do the functors $B\to E, C\to E, E\to D$ preserve these?

I think the answer should be yes. A model for $E$ could be the following. We know that $B\cup C \subset D$ is the ordinary pushout, hence a homotopy pushout, since the Joyal model structure is left proper. Then we can take $E$ to be the smallest sub-simplicial set of $D$ such that all squares \begin{CD} \Lambda^k[n] @>{}>> E\\ @V{}VV @V{}VV \\ \Delta[n] @>{}>> D \end{CD} for $0<k<n$ have a diagonal filler $\Delta[n] \to E$. I think an $n$-simplex $\sigma:\Delta[n] \to D$ is then in $E$ if and only if there is some surjection $\delta:[m] \to [n]$ such that all edges of the spine of $\delta^*\sigma:\Delta[m] \to D$ are in $B\cup C$.

We have an initial object $0\in A$ which is also initial in $B,C$ and $D$. This should give the initial object of $E$, but I have a hard time proving that $E(0,X)$ is contractible, even for $X \in B \setminus C$. It seems to get quite messy to show this by hand, and it would be nice if there is either a slick argument or a reference I could use.

Edit Simon's example convinced me the answer to the question is probably no, and that at least my construction of $E$ is wrong as stated. I'd like to add the condition $B \cap C = A$, to more closely reflect the situation I am interested in.

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    $\begingroup$ Perhaps I should've said: take $E$ to be a homotopy pushout such that $E$ is a quasi-category. Why in your example does $D$ have all finite coproducts? And wouldn't we have $E=D$ in your example? And I would say $\emptyset$ does not have all finite coproducts, since it does not have an initial object. $\endgroup$
    – Maanroof
    Commented Jun 16, 2020 at 13:51
  • $\begingroup$ Right, I agree, that's a good counter-example, if one is willing to say that $\emptyset$ has all finite coproducts. But at least I don't believe my original idea anymore, and in particular your example shows that my construction of $E$ is wrong. I am going to edit the question to reflect the situation I'm interested in more closely. $\endgroup$
    – Maanroof
    Commented Jun 16, 2020 at 14:03
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    $\begingroup$ Hum sorry, my counter-example isn't quite working... As you're editing the question I'm removing my comment that are not quite correct. My point was mostly that the assumption of the existence of D does not give anything (you can always complete a pushout diagram with such a D that will have all colimits and such that the arrow preserves coproducts). While in general the pushout have no heason to have coproducts of an object in B with an object in C. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 16, 2020 at 14:16
  • $\begingroup$ Well, I think I understood the gist of it, and it definitely showed that I was thinking wrongly about $E$ in the original formulation, so thanks anyway. I guess the point of $D$ is that the ordinary pushout can be computed as $B\cup C$ (under the added assumption), and this should be equivalent to $E$ in the Joyal model structure, although in general $B\cup C$ need not be a quasi-categoy itself. $\endgroup$
    – Maanroof
    Commented Jun 16, 2020 at 14:25

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A pushout $B \coprod_A C$ will almost never have all coproduct. the problem is that objects in $B \coprod_A C$ are all either objects of $B$ or objects of $C$, so if $B \coprod_A C$ has coproduct, it means that every time you take the coproduct of $b \in B$ with $c \in C$ it would have to be either in $B$ or in $C$.

To give a concrete example. Take $D$ to be the quasi-category of pairs of spaces, so $D=\mathcal{S} \times \mathcal{S}$.

Take $B$ to be the full subcategory of pairs whose first component is empty, and $C$ the full subcategory of objects whose second component is empty. $B$ and $C$ are equivalent to the quasi-category $\mathcal{S}$ of spaces, their intersection $A$ is equivalent to the terminal category $\Delta[0]$ (it only contains the empty space).

The homotopy pushout $B \coprod_A C$ can be shown to identify with the full subcategory of $D = \mathcal{S} \times \mathcal{S}$ of pairs of spaces $X \times Y$ where either $X$ or $Y$ is empty (this is not completely trivial). And it is not closed under coproducts in $D$.

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