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The Quality of Complex Systems and Industry Structure

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  • Nicholas Economides
  • William Lehr

Abstract

The structure of the telecommunications industry has changed substantially in the last decade, raising public concern that the quality of our information infrastructure may be adversely affected. This paper extends the standard vertical differentiation model of imperfect competition to address the case of the choice of quality in complex systems. In these systems each demanded good consists of two complementary components whose quality may be set by competing firms. The extended framework is used to examine how changes in the vertical and horizontal structure of the industry affect the choice of compatibility, the overall system quality, the equilibrium market prices, and the allocation of surplus. The results from this analysis are interpreted in light of changes in the structure of the telecommunications industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Economides & William Lehr, 1994. "The Quality of Complex Systems and Industry Structure," Working Papers 94-06, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ste:nystbu:94-06
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    File URL: http://raven.stern.nyu.edu/networks/94-06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joseph Farrell & Garth Saloner, 1985. "Standardization, Compatibility, and Innovation," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 16(1), pages 70-83, Spring.
    2. Economides, Nicholas & Salop, Steven C, 1992. "Competition and Integration among Complements, and Network Market Structure," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 105-123, March.
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    6. Economides, Nicholas & White, Lawrence J., 1994. "Networks and compatibility: Implications for antitrust," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(3-4), pages 651-662, April.
    7. Farrell, Joseph & Saloner, Garth, 1986. "Installed Base and Compatibility: Innovation, Product Preannouncements, and Predation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(5), pages 940-955, December.
    8. Jaskold Gabszewicz, J. & Thisse, J. -F., 1980. "Entry (and exit) in a differentiated industry," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 327-338, April.
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    11. Matutes, Carmen & Regibeau, Pierre, 1992. "Compatibility and Bundling of Complementary Goods in a Duopoly," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 37-54, March.
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    13. Joseph Farrell & Garth Saloner, 1985. "Installed Base and Compatibility With Implications for Product Preannouncements," Working papers 385, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas Economides, 1997. "The Economics of Networks," Brazilian Electronic Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, vol. 1(0), December.
    2. Kotakorpi, Kaisa, 2006. "Access price regulation, investment and entry in telecommunications," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 1013-1020, September.
    3. Economides, Nicholas, 1998. "The incentive for non-price discrimination by an input monopolist," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 271-284, May.
    4. Economides, Nicholas, 1999. "Quality choice and vertical integration," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 903-914, August.
    5. Edmond Baranes & Laurent Flochel & Claude Jessua, 1996. "Interconnexion de réseaux, qualité et concurrence," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 47(3), pages 467-476.
    6. Anne Perrot, 1995. "Ouverture à la concurrence dans les réseaux : l'approche stratégique de l'économie des réseaux," Économie et Prévision, Programme National Persée, vol. 119(3), pages 59-71.
    7. Edmond Baranes, 1998. "Réglementation et ouverture à la concurrence des activités en réseaux : le cas des télécommunications," Revue Française d'Économie, Programme National Persée, vol. 13(4), pages 161-186.

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