This article investigates how incumbents respond to low-end firm entry. Prior theory suggests that high-end incumbents raise their price in response to a profit-maximizing low-cost entrant but lower their price in response to a welfare-maximizing low-end entrant. This paper uses a dataset of 206...

We formulate a simple model of optimal defensive disclosure by a dominant firm facing uncertain antitrust enforcement and test its implications using unique data on defensive disclosures and patents by IBM. Our results indicate that stronger antitrust enforcement leads to more defensive...

In its first 35 years, the U.S. laser industry was characterized by steady growth in output and the number of producers, whereas subsequently the number of producers steadily declined despite continued growth in the industry’s output. A model of industry evolution that features the creation,...

A change in US patent law in the early 1980’s increased the value of patents, particularly for firms in the electronics and semiconductors industry, yet many of the industry’s leading firms did not embrace patenting after the change. We show through an in-depth study of International...