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Bidimensional vertical differentiation

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  • Garella, Paolo G.
  • Lambertini, Luca

Abstract

In markets where product quality is important, more than one characteristic is usually necessary for producers to define product quality. Standard theory maintains that: (i) in a duopoly there will be a quality leader no matter whether the product can incorporate one or two vertical attributes; (ii) differentiation pertains only to one attribute. By contrast, in our set-up, there are also equilibria where the quality leader is better in two attributes, and others where there is cross leadership, namely a situation where each firm designs a product to dominate the other in one characteristic. Applications to Minimum Quality Standards and tax (subsidy) on quality products are sketched, showing spill-over effects from one to the other quality dimension.

Suggested Citation

  • Garella, Paolo G. & Lambertini, Luca, 2014. "Bidimensional vertical differentiation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 1-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:32:y:2014:i:c:p:1-10
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2013.10.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Ourania Karakosta, 2018. "Tax Competition in Vertically Differentiated Markets with Environmentally Conscious Consumers," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 69(4), pages 693-711, April.
    2. Yan, Yingchen & Zhao, Qiuhong & Qin, Zhongfeng & Sun, Gaoji, 2022. "Integration of development and advertising strategies for multi-attribute products under competition," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 300(2), pages 490-503.
    3. Barigozzi, Francesca & Ma, Ching-to Albert, 2018. "Product differentiation with multiple qualities," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 380-412.
    4. Marco A. Marini & Ornella Tarola & Jacques-François Thisse, 2020. "Is Environmentalism the Right Strategy to Decarbonize the World?," Working Papers 2020.31, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    5. Dorothée Brécard & Mireille Chiroleu-Assouline, 2020. "The market for "harmful component-free" products under pressure from the NGOs," PSE Working Papers halshs-02878337, HAL.
    6. José A. Novo-Peteiro, 2020. "Two-dimensional vertical differentiation with attribute dependence," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 149-180, October.
    7. Dorothée Brécard & Mireille Chiroleu-Assouline, 2024. "Information campaigns and ecolabels by environmental NGOs: Effective strategies to eliminate environmentally harmful components?," Post-Print hal-04592469, HAL.
    8. Jason M. Walter & Jeffrey M. Peterson, 2017. "Strategic R&D and the innovation of products: understanding the role of time preferences and product differentiation," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(7), pages 575-595, October.
    9. Marco A. Marini & Ornella Tarola & Jacques-François Thisse, 2022. "When is Environmentalism Good for the Environment?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 82(1), pages 1-28, May.
    10. Sungho Yun, 2018. "Minimum safety standards with asymmetric safety costs," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 152-173, April.
    11. Burani, Nadia & Mantovani, Andrea, 2020. "Non-linear pricing and conscious consumption," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Oligopoly equilibrium; Vertical differentiation; Product quality; Scope economies; Minimum Quality Standards; Taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality

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