Existing theoretical models of research and development (R&D) treat R&D as a single economic activity. Once R&D terminates, the only way for the activity to resume is by assuming some exogenous changes in the basic parameters of the model, e.g., the distribution of technological advances. In...

Managers of research and development (R&D) programs are often confronted with questions of what determines R&D spending (i.e. R&D search intensity) and when R&D spending is unprofitable (i.e. Reservation Technology Level). Three determinants of R&D spending are identified: the current technology...

This paper considers the consumption behavior of a risk-averse consumer with a preference for immediate consumption who faces an uncertain income stream and plans for a finite or infinite number of periods. The consumer may borrow up to a limit or save, where both saving and borrowing are...

A stochastic consumer behavior model is constructed transforming Nicosia's (Nicosia, F. M., 1966. Consumer Decision Processes. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.) postulates into probability hypotheses. Nicosia's deterministic model is obtained in the mean evolutions and...