Exclusionary Vertical Contracts with Multiple Entrants

This paper constructs a model of anticompetitive exclusive dealing in the presence of multiple entrants. Unlike a single-entrant model in the extant literature, an entrant competes not only with the incumbent to deal with buyers but also with other entrants. The competition among entrants then plays the role of commitment such that low wholesale prices are offered to buyers when they deviate from exclusive contracts. We argue that this commitment effect becomes a barrier to exclusive dealing and that the results differ drastically from the predictions of the single-entrant framework.Vertical Relation; Exclusive Dealing; Multiple Entrants; Antitrust Policy.

Capacity Expansion in Markets with Intertemporal Consumption Externalities

This paper analyzes market capacity expansion in the presence of intertemporal consumption externalities such as consumer learning, networks, or bandwagon effects. The externality leads to an endogenous shift of market demand that responds to past market capacity. Whereas market capacity grows in waves, its magnitude depends on the degree of market concentration. The competitive environment contributes to S-shaped time patterns of market capacity expansion that is slow from the social viewpoint. On the other hand, using an introductory price, a monopolist plans an initially larger, but eventually smaller, amount of market cultivation than a competitive market capacity expansion.Intertemporal consumption externalities; S-shaped diffusion; Market structure; Introductory price.

Market Diffusion with Consumer-Based Bilateral Learning

This paper analyzes the market diffusion of a new product whose quality is uncertain. Consumers learn the product quality by observing the history of market outcomes. Firms cannot observe how consumers evaluate the product quality; instead, they learn by observing consumer behavior. New entry occurs gradually because of informational externalities. This dual uncertainty contributes to an S-shaped diffusion of the new product with declining prices.Experience Goods; Quality Uncertainty; Bilateral Learning; S-shaped Diffusion.

The Big Mac Standard: A Statistical Illustration

We demonstrate a statistical procedure for selecting the most suitable empirical model to test an economic theory, using the example of the test for purchasing power parity based on the Big Mac Index. Our results show that supporting evidence for purchasing power parity, conditional on the Balassa-Samuelson effect, depends crucially on the selection of models, sample periods and economies used for estimations.Big Mac Index, Purchasing Power Parity, Panel Data

The Big Mac Standard: A statistical Illustration

We demonstrate a statistical procedure for selecting the most suitable empirical model to test an economic theory, using the example of the test for purchasing power parity based on the Big Mac Index. Our results show that supporting evidence for purchasing power parity, conditional on the Balassa-Samuelson effect, depends crucially on the selection of models, sample periods and economies used for estimations.

Long-run projection of the Japanese economy

Cover titleAt head of title: Economic Development Program"208"--handwritten on coverIncludes bibliographical reference