Information exchange with cost uncertainty: An alternative approach and new results

This paper further develops the standard modelling of information exchange between firms in the presence of cost uncertainty. In order to avoid consistency problems, we replace the normal distribution of the random variables, commonly used because of its convenient mathematical properties, by an alternative one, namely a non-symmetrically distributed random variable with a binomial positive outcome. This leads to new results concerning firms' information-disclosure policy: Confirming the empirical evidence and in contrast to the existing literature, we show that in Cournot markets firms never exchange their private information and in Bertrand markets only for very steep demand functions. --information sharing,cost uncertainty,oligopoly

On the robustness of concealing cost information in oligopoly

Competing firms are usually better informed about their own cost parameters than about those of their rivals. Therefore, it is an important issue to study the incentives of firms to exchange private cost information. We resolve and further generalize an influential model of Raith (1996) and show that, independent of the number of firms, concealing cost information is a dominant firm strategy in heterogeneous Bertrand oligopolies with substitutive as well as with complementary goods.cost uncertainty

Information Asymmetry, Education Signals and the Case of Ethnic and Native Germans

This paper analyses the effects of education signals for Ethnic Germans and Germans without a migration background (“Native Germans”). We base our analysis on a sorting model with productivity enhancing effects of education. We compare whether the signalling value differs between the migrants and non-migrants in the German labour market. Starting from the theoretical result that only a separating equilibrium can exist, we find substantial empirical differences between Ethnic and Native Germans with the same formal education level. This empirical analysis is done with a completely new dataset based on administrative data from the German Federal Employment Agency.sorting theory, human-capital theory, returns to education, migration

Information asymmetry, education signals and the case of Ethnic and Native Germans

"This paper analyses the effects of education signals for Ethnic Germans and Germans without a migration background ('Native Germans'). We base our analysis on a sorting model with productivity enhancing effects of education. We compare whether the signalling value differs between the migrants and non-migrants in the German labour market. Starting from the theoretical result that only a separating equilibrium can exist, we find substantial empirical differences between Ethnic and Native Germans with the same formal education level. This empirical analysis is done with a completely new dataset based on administrative data from the German Federal Employment Agency." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))integrierte Erwerbsbiografien, Bildungsniveau, Bildungsabschluss, Inländer, Aussiedler, Hochqualifizierte, mittlere Qualifikation, Niedrigqualifizierte, Lohnhöhe, Lohnunterschied