This paper proposes an empirical study of the Italian gas distribution industry by means of long-term cost function. The analysis highlights the fact that the number of customers is more important than the amount of gas delivered in explaining the variability of distribution costs. Very low...

In this paper some of the results emerged in the empirical literature on diversification are put into perspective against the background of a simple integrative model of multiproduct firms. By letting diversification strategies depend on the simultaneous play of four factors (demand...