On the Existence and uniqueness of Price Equilibrium with Multi-Store Firms

The paper gives a proof of the existence and the uniqueness of price equilibrium in a multi-product, multi-firm competition framework. It illustrates how the price levels depends on the inter-brand portfolio substitution and on the intra-brand portfolio substitution

Certification of Origin and Brands Competition

We analyse the competition in quality and quantity between a foreign firm and a domestic firm. The domestic firm can belong to a certification of origin, whereas its rival uses a pure brand strategy. We will show how the certification can allow the domestic firm to position itself as a high quality producer and improve the average quality of the products offered on the market. If, however, the certified firm offers the low quality good, the certification can permit it to guarantee a higher profit than that of its competitor and to improve the consumers' surplus by favouring product standardisation.Certification of origin, Quality, international competition, Demand and Price Analysis, L13, F12, F14,

Agrifood safety standards, market power and consumer misperceptions

This paper analyzes how the implementation of a food safety standard affects firms strategic behaviour within the context of a food chain. We provide a formal analysis, which considers that the sanitary risk results from a strong heterogeneity of upstream production conditions and the final demand depends on consumers risk estimations (given that consumers may underestimate or, conversely, overestimate the sanitary risk). We show how downstream (processing or retailing) firms may be prompted to play a positive role with respect to food safety, either by selecting only the safest upstream producers or by encouraging the improvement of suppliers production conditions. When the degree of consumers risk misperception is relatively low, then a downstream firm may adopt the latter strategy and increase the marketed quantities as the food safety standard is improved. However, we show that the actual contamination risk is not necessarily decreasing in the level of the food safety standard.food safety standards, market power, risk misperception, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Minimum Quality Standards and brand development in agrifood chains

This paper develops an original framework to better understand the interaction between the development of brands and the quality of raw materials. We consider different levels of consumer trust for a brand and we examine the incentive for firms to improve the quality of a processed product by requiring that upstream suppliers adopt a private standard. In contrast to previous literature, the incentive for firms to develop a more stringent private standard may increase with the level of the regulated minimum quality standard. Moreover, the creation of a private standard can reduce the risk of consumer dissatisfaction while increasing the marketed quantity. Unexpected positive effects of a reinforcement of the minimum quality standard may arise, in the sense that both market access for upstream producers and consumer surplus are improved and final price may decrease with respect to simply complying with the regulation.Minimum Quality Standard, brand, vertical relationship, Agribusiness,

Minimum Quality Standard and Premium Private Labels

Cet article propose une étude théorique des nouvelles générations de Marques de Distributeurs dans le secteur alimentaire. Nous proposons un modèle original de relation verticale, intégrant l'existence d'un marché intermédiaire de type concurrentiel (marché spot) parallèlement à la mise en place d'une relation contractuelle privilégiée entre une partie des producteurs amont et un distributeur. On montre alors sous quelles conditions les producteurs impliqués et le distributeur vont effectivement mettre en place ce type de démarches. Il apparaît néanmoins qu'à l'inverse des producteurs, les distributeurs et les consommateurs peuvent préférer une amélioration légiférée de la qualité par un renforcement des standards de qualité minimum.Relations verticales;Grande distribution;Sécurité sanitaire;Standard de qualité minimum;Marques de distribution

Food Safety, Liability and Collective Norms

Afin de renforcer la sécurité sanitaire des produits alimentaires, la grande distribution met en place un certain nombre de normes restrictives sur le référencement des producteurs. Cet article étudie le fonctionnement économique de ces normes, dans le cadre d'une formalisation des relations verticales producteurs-distributeurs. Le modèle d'analyse intègre à la fois un risque endogène de marché (lié à l'adoption ou non des normes sécurisées par les agriculteurs) ainsi qu'un risque de pénalité pour les distributeurs défectueux (en cas de crise sanitaire). Nous montrons comment ce dernier principe de politique publique, dit de « responsabilité », explique en partie l'action coordonnée des distributeurs et peut de fait influencer le risque sanitaire.

Retailer-led Regulation of Food Safety : Back to Spot Markets?

At the end of the 1990s European retailers had significantly contributed to restructuring fresh agricultural product food chains (meat, fruit and vegetables), and had turned away from spot markets in order to create their own supply chains, based on private technical requirements and verification systems usually managed from within the firm. However, over the last few years a second type of system has appeared, as the range of standards adopted by retailers has been broadened to include generic standards common to several retailers. A telling example of this new approach is provided by the EUREPGAP protocol. In this paper we propose a theoretical analysis of this new procedure and its possible impacts.food safety, spot markets, retailer, supply chain, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Preparation of aqueous dispersion of thermoplastic sizing agent for carbon fiber by emulsion/solvent evaporation

In this work, different sizing agent aqueous dispersions based on polyetherimide (PEI) were elaborated in order to improve the interface between carbon fibers and a thermoplastic matrix (PEEK). The dispersions were obtained by the emulsion/solvent evaporation technique. To optimize the stability and the film formation on the fibers, two surfactants were tested at different concentrations, with different concentrations of PEI. The dispersions obtained were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the stability evaluated by analytical centrifugation (LUMiFuge). The selected dispersions were tested for film formation ability by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the sizing performance was assessed by observation of the fiber/matrix interface by SEM. The results revealed that an aqueous dispersion of PEI,stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant, led to very stable sizing agent aqueous dispersion with ideal film formation and better interface adhesion

Certification of Origin as a Non-Tariff Barrier

This paper put forward the opinion that the certification of origin constitutes another type ofnon-tariff barrier. Indeed, certification of origin often combines both a quantity restriction anda sort of quality cost subsidy. We consider the canonical model of strategic trade policy,whereby two firms are located respectively in the home country and in a foreign country andare competing on the domestic market. In this framework, we show how certification canallow the domestic firm to position itself as a high quality producer. If, however, the certifiedfirm offers the low quality good, then consumers' surplus may be improved.Cet article propose d'associer la certification d'origine à une barrière non tarifaire dans leséchanges internationaux. En effet, la certification d\\órigine se traduit souvent à la fois par unerestriction quantitative et par une subvention implicite de la qualité. On considère le modèlecanonique de concurrence internationale dans lequel une firme domestique et une firmeétrangère se concurrencent pour la vente de leur produit sur le marché domestique. Dans cecadre, on montre comment l\\ádoption de la certification peut permettre à la firme domestiquede se positionner en leader de qualité. Si au contraire elle offre le bien de qualité plus faible,le surplus des consommateurs peut être amélioré

DirectProfil : de la navigation au partage de documents hypermedia

International audienceIn this article, authors describe an help concept about web hypertext surfing and value-added information sharing. Moderns needs in ability to manipulate recent information and communication Tools driven by technologic abrupt changes are notified in french technology courses curriculums. But most of web users (for particular or professionnal purpose) have never had academic or fundamental courses for surfing, collecting and sharing hypermedia datas. The present paper present first a concept and then an experimental product for helping hypermedia web surfing, collecting an value-added informtaion sharing.Dans cet article, les auteurs décrivent un concept d'aide concernant la navigation sur les services web du réseau internet, ainsi que le partage de données recueillies ou induites au cours de la navigation. Les nécessités de compétences dans la manipulation des outils modernes d'information et de communication inhérents aux ruptures technologiques que nous vivons, sont formalisés dans les programmes d'enseignement de technologie pour les classes de collège. Néanmoins, nombre d'utilisateurs actuels (particuliers ou professionnels) des services web n'on jamais reçu d'apprentissage d'ordre méthodologique vis à vis de la navigation, du recueil ainsi que de la communication de données issues du réseau internet. L'article présent se donne pour objectif de présenter un produit informatique, illustrant le concept précédemment évoqué, assurant une interface entre notre mode de pensée linéaire et structuré, le recueil d'informations présentées sous forme d'hypertexte ainsi que la communication à d'autres acteurs de la valeur ajoutée sur l'information après consultation