This paper provides a simple unified discrete-choice framework for analyzing differentiated duopolies. This framework nests models of horizontal and vertical differentiation, including standard textbook models (Hotelling and Shaked-Sutton). Contrary to these models, it also applies to economic...

This paper examines how innovation mediates the relationship between design management capabilities (DMCs) and frm performance. While these concepts have attracted attention in strategic management literature, how they interact to drive the success of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) is...

This paper analyzes the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) on industrial designs, and the manner in which the narrow aspects dealt with by the Agreement have been addressed by European Union (EU) legislation. The paper...

Optimising resource efficiency is essential for sustainable product lifecycle management (PLM). This motivates the use of novel methodologies such as sustainable design, circular economy concepts, and causal machine learning algorithms. This study focuses on repair as one of the circular economy...

Sustainable product development requires integrating eco- and open innovation. Traditional Design Thinking (DT), while effective for iterative product improvement, often lacks the capability to address environmental considerations comprehensively, necessitating new approaches to balance consumer...

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) recently entered into force with the aim of making sustainable products the norm. In this report, the relevance of a number of product groups and horizontal requirements for potential action under ESPR was evaluated on the basis of several...

This paper provides a simple unified discrete-choice framework for analyzing differentiated duopolies. This framework nests models of horizontal and vertical differentiation, including standard textbook models (Hotelling and Shaked-Sutton). Contrary to these models, it also applies to economic...

Metaverse, once a concept confined to science fiction, has emerged as a transformative reality during the digital era. As this immersive virtual world gains prominence, the role of avatars and the digital representations of users in shaping educational experiences within a metaverse becomes...

In many markets, firms offering low-quality goods are more prominent than firms offering high-quality goods. Then, consumers are perfectly informed about the good of the prominent low-quality firm but incur search costs to bring the high-quality good of a competitor to mind. We analyze under...

The growing environmental impact of disposable diaper waste has become a major global problem. Despite the invention of circular diapers, their adoption remains quite limited. Developing effective adoption strategies requires a better understanding of consumer behaviour toward purchasing...

In business as elsewhere, "ugly people" are treated worse than "pretty people." Why is this so? This article investigates the ethics of aesthetic injustice by addressing four questions: 1. What is aesthetic injustice? 2. How does aesthetic injustice play out? 3. What are the characteristics that...

Research about the circular economy is dominated by engineers, architects, and social scientists in fields other than economics. The concepts they study can be useful in economic models of policies – to reduce virgin materials extraction, to encourage green design, and to make better use of...

This study proposes an alternative technique to support the design and development of products, specifically focusing on creating a new design and platform for restaurants tailored to the needs of senior adults, ensuring easy-to-access experiences. The primary aim is to effectively identify and...

This paper presents a novel approach to addressing VAT regressivity, by proposing the adoption of a progressive VAT: a single-rate, broad-base, VAT, whereby tax paid on consumption is re-paid to lower income households in real-time, at the moment of purchase. Such a system can effectively...

This paper introduces an innovative model designed to predict the optimal product prototype within the framework of sustainable development. The model takes into account both quality and environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of the product, with a specific focus on light electric...