Dynamic Advertising under Vertical Product Differentiation

We investigate a dynamic advertising model where product quality is en-dogenous. In the differential game between single-product firms, there exists a parameter range where the low-quality firm uses a more efficient advertising technology and earns higher profits than the rival. Moreover, we show that equilibrium qualities are the same under duopoly, multiproduct monopoly and social planning, the only distortion being concerned with output levels

The socially responsible choice in a duopolistic market: a dynamic problem of “ethical product” differentiation

The increasing attention of profit maximizing corporations to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a new stylized fact of the contemporary economic environment. In our theoretical analysis we model CSR adoption as the optimal response of a profit maximizing firm to the competition of a not for profit corporate pioneer in the presence of a continuum of consumers with heterogeneous preferences towards the social and environmental features of the final good. CSR adoption implies a trade-off since, on the one side, it raises production costs but, on the other side, it leads to accumulation of “ethical capital”.We investigate conditions under which the profit maximizing firm switches from price to price and CSR competition by comparing monopoly and duopoly equilibria and their consequences on aggregate social responsibility and consumer welfare. Our findings provide a theoretical background for competition between profit maximizing incumbents and not for profit entrants in markets such as fair trade, organic food, ethical banking and ethical finance

COMMODITY R&D, PATENTING, AND PROMOTION

There is considerable evidence of high returns to public investments in agricultural R&D, but because intellectual property in agriculture is considered a public good, little R&D investment by growers themselves. This study investigates the potential for growers to increase commodity sales through product research, development, patenting and promotion in a dynamic commodity-market model. Theoretical hypotheses derived from the solution to this model are tested in an empirical example from Washington apples. Estimation results show that, despite significant spillovers to research and promotion expenditure, growers can improve the effectiveness of generic commodity promotion by funding R&D programs as well.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Quality and Advertising in a Dynamic Duopoly

We investigate a differential duopoly game where each firm, through capital accumulation over time, may invest both in persuasive advertising campaigns aimed at increasing the willingness to pay of consumers and in an R&D process aimed at increasing the level of own product quality. In contrast with the acquired wisdom based on static models, the firm providing the market with the inferior variety may earn higher profits than the rival. More than this, we show that there exists a range of parameters wherein the low quality firm commands monopoly power

The impact of market structure on innovation incentives

Grothe M. The impact of market structure on innovation incentives. Bielefeld: Universitätsbibliothek Bielefeld; 2014

Value-relevance of expensed and capitalized intangibles - a French survey

Significant difference exists between the market value and book value of firms. It could be attributed to the fact that intangible assets are not reflected in the financial statements. Our resuls indicate a statistical association between the "capitalized goodwill" and the market-to-book ratio, but do not indicate any statistical link with the "expensed intangible-intensity" nor the "capitalized intangible-intensity". These results support and contradict, for a part, the explanation on the loss of value relevance of financioal information, which could be due to the non-recognized intangibles in financial statements. However, the differing French and American accounting treatments of intangible expenditures may explain why these expenses are not taken into account by french capital markets when estimating the value of companies.Intangible intensity; Market-to-Book ratio; Value-relevance; Goodwill; Capital markets; Ohlson model

Performance Appraisal Research: A Critical Review of Work on “The Social Context and Politics of Appraisal”

This paper reviews existing literatures on the analysis of performance appraisal (PA) paying special attention to those which try to take into account the “social context” of appraisal systems and processes. The special place of political action within these processes is underlined and the different levels at which politics need to be considered in research are outlined. Research on politics is considered and shown to lack an adequate consideration of the social relations involved in the reciprocal interactions between PA tools and processes and users interpretation and manipulation of them.Performance appraisal; Social context; Politics

Real market concentration through partial acquisitions

We study horizontal partial acquisitions in an oligopolistic industry in the absence of synergies. Contrary to existing results, we find that a dominant shareholder may choose to acquire shares in a competitor although the aggregate profit of the group of firms under his control, and even the greater group of firms in which he has a stake, is reduced. This is due to a “favorite” effect: after the acquisition, the dominant shareholder will favor the firm in which he eventually holds the relatively higher share to the detriment of shareholders of the other firms. For this reason, a block of shares can be bought at a discount when the value of the firm of the initiator decreases post acquisition. Moreover, we show that the existence of initial silent toeholds in rivals enhances the incentive for a dominant shareholder to buy shares in other firms in the industry, whereas controlling ones may discourage them.Horizontal partial acquisitions; Real market concentration; Dominant shareholder; Minority shareholders; Silent interests