Collusive networks in market sharing agreements in the presence of an antitrust authority

This paper studies how the presence of an antitrust authority affects market-sharing agreements made by firms in oligopolistic markets. These agreements prevent firms from entering each other´s market. The set of market-sharing agreements defines a collusive network, which is under suspicion by antitrust authorities. This paper shows that, from the firm´s point of view, the probability of being caught is endogenous and depends on the agreements each firm has signed. Stable collusive networks can be decomposed into a set of isolated firms and complete alliances of different sizes. While in the absence of the antitrust authority, a network is stable if its alliances are large enough, when the antitrust authority is considered, the network is stability depends on the network configuration as a whole. Antitrust laws may have a pro-competitive effect as they give Firms in large alliances more incentives to cut their agreements at once

Numerical model for material parameter identification of cells

Bacteria have a complex external layer that render them with an increased stiffness and more resistant to external invasion. The works aims to model the squeezing of a bacteria between two walls, and deduce the composition of bacterial external layer from the observed deformations. A FE based model will be developed for inferring the stiffness of baceria, solving an inverse problem from the applied loading and measured displacements. The results will be applied to laboraotry experiments carried out at Institu of Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC)

Climate Responsive Design Simulation and Modelling for Industrial Heritage

The control of solar radiation is a basic dimension of modern design in all different types of constructions. Many architects have recently observed that different phases of sustainable design require a set of calculations and simulations that are necessary as a new standard design.'e valuable contributions to the process of sustainable design has a common denominator: solar radiation and comfort. In this way, motivated by all these new strategies and concepts, the large number of papers published suggests that the work has not been finished. 'is work provides an illustration of the Atarazanas regarding its climate responsiveness, focusing specifically on daylighting, shading, heat gain, and cooling loads. 'e objective is to assess the design of the Reales Atarazanas de Sevilla (Seville Royal Dockyards) to quantify how it is impacted by solar insolation and to provide insights about design characteristics that influence efficiency and conservation

COORDINATION OF FISCAL POLICIES IN A MONETARY UNION

This paper examines how the member countries of a monetary union react to country-specific shocks and to shocks from the rest of the world, when the budget deficit is the only policy instrument available. We develop a three-country model in which countries show different preferences regarding objectives, and face asymmetric disturbances. Two of the countries form a monetary union where an independent central bank controls monetary policy, and fiscal policy is determined by fiscal authorities at the national level. In this framework, we analyze in strategic terms how authorities can deal with monetary, real and supply shocks using fiscal policy with stabilizing purposes. Finally, we discuss the welfare aspects of the optimal solution and extent to which a coordinate fiscal policy may influence the performance and evolution of the monetary union.Monetary union, fiscal policy, policy coordination