There are often benefits to consumers and to firms from standardization of a product. We examine whether these standardization benefits can "trap" an industry in an obsolete or inferior standard when there is a better alternative available. With complete information and identical preferences among firms the answer is no; but when information is incomplete this "excess inertia" can occur. We also discuss the extent to which the problem can be overcome by communication.
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Volume (Year): 16 (1985) Issue (Month): 1 (Spring) Pages: 70-83 Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML
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