Mit dem Thema „Globalisierung gestalten und gemeinsam gewinnen“ beschäftigt sich die fünfte Alfred-Weber-Lecture, die am Mittwoch, 9. Dezember 2009, an der Universität Heidelberg stattfindet. Als Gastrednerin wird sich Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, ehemalige Präsidentin der Europa-Universität...

A quality improvement often necessitates modifications of varietal product features. This paper studies firms’ incentives to provide quality when this decision affects the goods’ degree of horizontal differentiation. Intuitively, one is inclined to argue that private incentives to provide...

The design of distribution channels is an important marketing decision since a revision implies costly reorganization. Hence, it makes sense to study strategic motives of alternative distribution devices. A precommitment is a strategic move that affects the other players'expectations on how...

Often a quality improvement necessitates modifications of varietal product features. This paper studies firms' incentives to invest in quality improving R&D when this decision affects the goods' degree of varietal differention.

Lancasterian models of product differentiation typically assume a one-dimension characteristics space. We show that standard results on prices and locations no longer hold when firms compete in a multi- characteistics space.

Lancasterian models of product differentiation typically assume a one- dimensional characteristics space. We show that standard results on prices and locations no longer hold when firms compete in a multi- characteristics space. In the location game with n characteristics, firms choose to...