Roaming and investments in the mobile internet market

This model discusses mobile network operators' (MNOs) incentives to invest in their network facilities such as new 4G networks under various regimes of data roaming charge regulation. Given an induced externality of investments (spillovers) due to the roaming agreements it will be shown that MNOs, competing on investments, widely set higher investments for below cost regulation of roaming charges. Otherwise, if MNOs are free to collaborate on investments, they set higher investment levels for above cost roaming charges. Both below and above cost charges may be preferred from a welfare perspective. Furthermore, the paper discusses effects of the roaming charge regulation on roaming quality and MNOs' coverage.     

The impact of government purchases on market performance in Australia

This paper discusses the role which federal, state and local governments can play as large buyers in influencing the behavior of sellers in markets. While the available data make it impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions, the evidence is consistent with the possibility that theAustralian Commonwealth (federal) Government has used its market position as a large buyer to encourage competitive behavior, especially in highly concentrated industries. The local preference buying policies of state and local governments, however, may have augmented the effects of market power. The results suggest strongly that omission of variables representing the buying side of markets will lead to misspecification of structure-performance models, and indicate that government purchases could at appropriate times be used in addition to antitrust action, in order to improve market performance.     

The impact of industry environment on early market entry decisions by B2B managers in the U.S. and Japan

Managers form simplified mental models to cope with market environment uncertainties and to process information. A critical decision is whether to enter a high-potential market early. Large innovation and development investments involved in this decision increase uncertainty. We examine the importance ascribed by U.S. and Japanese managers to competitive forces when making early market entry decisions. We expect that the competitive forces will have different effects on the likelihood of early market entry in the U.S. versus Japan due to cultural and business environment differences, and we thereby develop several propositions. We develop a decision-making exercise simulating early market entry decisions, and tested our propositions with managers in medium to large business-to-business (B2B) firms from both countries. We assessed impacts of the competitive market forces on entry strategy selection via relative weights, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and frequency analysis. Our findings revealed differences in the mental models of Japanese and U.S. managers. Buyer power had a larger effect on the decision to make an early market entry for Japanese managers, while threat of new firm entry had a larger effect for U.S. managers; these findings were consistent with our propositions. We also found several areas of agreement between U.S. and Japanese managers. We conclude with theoretical implications and recommendations to B2B management.     

Estimating switching costs involved in changing mobile phone carriers in Japan: Evaluation of lock-in factors related to Japan’s SIM card locks

This paper employs a web-based conjoint-type questionnaire to examine empirically user preference for a hypothetical Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) unlock situation in Japan’s mobile phone market. This paper also analyzes carriers’ other marketing strategies to lock in consumers. The empirical analysis in this study reveals the following: over 80% of survey respondents evaluate a highly compatible platform with the SIM unlocked. Approximately 70% of consumers find that the value of discounts on initial payments exceeds the discounts on one-year monthly payments. In addition, conditions set by continuing agreements for mobile carriers and mobile handsets reduce consumer benefit by 35% at the median in the case of SIM unlocking with compatible platforms.     

The impact of introducing seven-day-trading on the Austrian electricity market

This paper analyses the impacts of the new daily green electricity production forecasting policy by the Austrian Green Electricity Settlement Agency (OEMAG) and the newly introduced seven-day electricity trading mechanism by the European Energy Exchange (EEX) on the Austrian electricity market. By treating these two market policy alterations as natural experiments and applying statistical and econometric methods to a unique data set, it is investigated whether thereby (i) a reduction of the green electricity production forecasting uncertainties and (ii) a generally more efficient electricity market with accompanying lower net costs is attained. Furthermore, we analyse whether (iii) seven-day-trading helps to mitigate the Friday-Monday effect that is often observed on stock and other exchanges markets. Finally, we investigate whether or not (iv) the underlying market design might tempt OEMAG to systematically overstate its forecasts on green power generation.     

The impact of product market competition on corporate environmental responsibility

Although the mainstream of current thinking in the business literature recognizes that firms should invest in environmental responsibility, the theory on how product market competition affects firms’ environmental responsibility remains undeveloped. Using cost-benefit analysis, we hypothesize that the relationship between product market competition (i.e., differential industry-level competition and heterogeneous firm-level market power) and corporate environmental responsibility (CER) will be curvilinear. We find support for this hypothesis through an empirical test on a panel of 792 listed manufacturing companies from 2006 to 2008 in China. The results show that (1) either too much or too little industrial competition and (2) either too much or too little firm-level market power lead to lower environmental responsibility. Our results reveal that CER is strategically chosen and related to competitive situations.     

The impact of regulating mobile termination rates and MNO-MVNO relationships on retail prices

A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) provides mobile telecommunication services by eluding the constraints of the radio communication infrastructure and establishing an agreement with a hosting network operator (HNO) for the use of its spectrum. Thus, MVNOs offer a wide range of mobile services and directly compete with every mobile network operator (MNO). This paper studies the economic justifications for potential regulatory intervention that defines the level of mobile termination rates (MTRs) and negotiations and agreements among MVNOs and HNOs. The results show that symmetric MTR reduction leads to competition growth among operators, forcing every operator to reduce retail prices and, consequently, to enhancing consumer welfare. The paper also finds that a collaborative strategy adopted by an HNO and an MVNO is advantageous for both and induces a reduction in retail prices, thus weakening other MNOs.     

2015年日印韩石油市场特点

2015年,受经济低迷及核电站重启影响,日本石油需求量进一步萎缩,炼厂加工量和原油进口量都降至20年来的最低水平.在经济增长和低油价的驱动下,印度石油需求量大幅攀升,超越日本成为全球第三大石油消费国.为满足日益增长的国内需求,印度油品出口量有所下滑.韩国的石油需求量和原油进口量创下历史新高,较高的炼油毛利支撑韩国炼油商保持较高的开工率,并不断扩大油品出口,使韩国超越印度成为亚洲最大的油品出口国.日本炼油能力萎缩和印度油品出口削减为中国扩大成品油出口提供了契机;日本、印度两国规范炼油业、取消行业补贴等举措以及韩国炼油商极其灵活的经营策略都为中国炼油业和炼油商提供了借鉴.     

Smart TV and the online media sector: User privacy in view of changing market realities

Smart TV and online media enable precise monitoring of online media consumption, which also forms the basis for personalised recommendations. This new practice challenges EU policy in two respects. Firstly, the legality of monitoring individual media consumption and using personal data of users is primarily addressed under data protection law. Secondly, tracking of viewing behaviour and personalisation of media content can also affect individuals’ freedom to receive information, as well as the realisation of media policy objectives such as media freedom and pluralism, implications that so far are not reflected in media law and policy, or only marginally. This article addresses the increasing reliance on personal data and personalised services in the audiovisual and online media sector and queries the appropriateness of the legal status quo in light of implementation and enforcement actions in Germany and the Netherlands. The analysis concludes with a call for media policy makers and regulators to pay more attention to the issue of ‘smart surveillance’ of media users, and develops a number of concrete recommendations on how to accommodate the specific privacy concerns of media users.     

实施国Ⅲ车用柴油标准对我国成品油市场的影响

按照国家要求,2011年下半年国内车用柴油将全面执行国Ⅲ标准。目前,国内各石油公司均在着手车用柴油从国Ⅱ到国Ⅲ的置换工作。从柴油加氢脱硫反应机理来看,柴油质量升级对柴油供应数量影响甚微,目前影响车用柴油升级的主要因素还是炼厂柴油加氢精制能力。预计2011年下半年国内柴油、国Ⅲ及以上标准车用柴油供应能力分别在8107万吨和6693万吨左右,需求量分别为8038万吨和5626万吨,市场将呈现总体供应偏紧但国Ⅲ及以上标准柴油供应能力充足的局面。此次车用柴油升级将有效降低柴油车尾气排放,有利于柴油车的发展并拉动后市柴油需求增长,但将增加炼厂能耗,加大炼厂节能减排的难度,增加炼油成本,在升级置换过渡期内将加重储运、销售的难度。     

西方国家军事干预利比亚对全球石油市场的影响

3月17日,联合国安理会以10票赞成、5票弃权的结果通过了关于在利比亚设立禁飞区的第1973号决议,决定对利比亚卡扎菲政权实施第二轮制裁。     

From the outside in: Consumer anti-choice and policy implications in the mobile gaming market

Significant growth in mobile media consumption has prompted a call to better understand the socio-cultural and policy dimensions of consumer choices. Contrary to industry and technology led analysis, this study argues that to guide consumer choice and innovation via regulatory policies requires an understanding of both ex-ante as well as in ex-post consumption conditions. This study examines mobile phone gaming to uncover how consumer anti-choice shapes decision-making as a framework for closely interrogating the ways in which policy concerns impact on consumers’ behavior. Through eleven focus groups (n=62), the study empirically identifies voluntary, intentional, and positive consumer anti-choice behaviors all of which impact policy initiatives when consumers, both gamers and non-gamers, self-regulate their behaviors. Findings point to four types of policy implication: regulating the self-regulated, understanding anti-choice, boundary-setting and including the self-excluded.     

The impact of firm cost and market size asymmetries on national mergers in a three-country model

This paper studies the impact of firm cost and market size asymmetries on merger decisions. I consider a model where a small and a large country compete in a third (world) market. Each of the two countries has two firms (with potentially different costs) that supply the domestic market and export to the third market. Merger decisions in the two countries are modeled as a simultaneously move game. The paper finds that firms in the large country have more incentives to merge than firms in the small country. In contrast, the government of the large country has more incentives to block a merger than the government of the small country. Thus, the model predicts that conflicts of interest between governments and firms concerning national mergers are more likely in large countries than in small ones.     

Corporate diversity and economic performance: The impact of market specialization

This papers introduces a market-based typology of corporate strategy, which builds on previous typologies (Rumelt 1974, 1982). We argue that, because different markets require different skills for success, firms which concentrate in one market area (consumer or industrial), at given levels of diversification, should achieve superior performance. Empirical tests with a sample of manufacturing firms support this proposed relationship between diversification strategy and financial performance.     

Reducing the level of switching costs in mobile communications: The case of Mobile Number Portability

Switching costs are one of the most important economic forces that affect market competition in mobile communications. Both theoretical and empirical studies have shown that switching costs reduce market competition leading to higher prices, lower product and service quality, and lower customer welfare. Given their negative consequences, national regulatory authorities have designed policies aimed at reducing switching costs and fostering competition. One of the most important of these, in the mobile communications industry, is mobile number portability (MNP). The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of MNP on switching costs in mobile phone services. First, a hierarchical Bayes model is proposed to measure switching costs at the customer level and to investigate the impact of MNP on them. Second, this study examines the drivers of MNP adoption by customers using a binary logit specification. The results reveal that this regulatory policy has significantly reduced the cost of switching and that MNP adoption partially depends on customer-related variables.     

Price convergence in contestable market structures: The impact of time and price-caps on intercity telecommunications rates

In this study, we tested if long-distance rates among AT&T, MCI, and US Sprint between New York City and six major SMSAs during 1980–91 have converged. Empirical findings show that rates have converged over time, that rate ratios or differences increased under price cap, and that distance does not have any impact on rate convergence. The variables of TIME and price cap (CAP) have greater impacts on rate convergence for AT&T/US Sprint than AT&T/MCI. Regression results based on pooled cross-section and time-series data yield better results.     

The role of mobile handsets in advanced network service evolution: Evidence from Japan

This paper aims at a better understanding of the mechanisms of mobile network service evolution through a closer examination of the context of mobile handsets. It aims first to establish quantitatively that mobile handsets are a determinant of mobile network service evolution patterns, and second, to develop a consistent perspective capable of explaining the evolution of various mobile network services. Despite the fact that mobile handsets are indispensable to users of mobile network services, surprisingly little is known about the role of these handsets in mobile network service evolution. This paper provides quantitative evidence of a positive relationship between intra-network-carrier penetration rates for mobile network service subscribers and mobile handsets designed for these services. The relationship is such that if one network service is diffused more than another, the mobile handsets related to the more diffused service are similarly more widely diffused in the market, and vice versa. The evidence is derived from an analysis of two mobile network services in Japan, mobile Internet and third generation mobile, initiated by NTT DoCoMo and KDDI. There are no existing studies that consistently explain the mechanisms of different mobile network service evolution patterns. Since the positive relationship that emerges from the analysis is consistent for both cases, by examining the mechanisms underlying this relationship, the paper develops an adequate and consistent perspective based on a constituent model reflecting the technological and competition structure of mobile network services. From this perspective, this positive relationship can be explained as the similarity or dissimilarity in essential technology ownership distribution across constituents. This perspective describes mobile network evolution in terms of changes in the distribution of essential technology ownership and, therefore, could be generalised more widely.     

亚太地区炼油工业前景及其对石油市场和贸易的影响

从上个年代末开始,亚太地区的炼油业进入了又一个低利时期。虽然席卷全球的金融危机增加了炼油业的困难,但近几年石油加工能力的扩张是造成区域性炼油毛利下降的主因。通过增加转化和裂化装置,亚太地区的炼油厂增强了对原料的适应能力,更多的炼油厂转向炼制便宜的原油,包括重质高硫原油甚至高酸原油。预计从2011到2013年,亚太地区石油产品需求量的增加将超过炼油产能的增加,给一些遭受重创的炼油厂带来短暂的休整机会。但是,随着中东地区新一轮炼油能力扩张的到来,亚太地区炼油业将陷入新的低迷期。亚太地区炼油产能的过剩从2008年的198万桶／日增加至2009年的383万桶／日,2010年将维持这一水平,2015年产能过剩将下降到22477桶／日,2020年又将增加至2467）-桶／日。预计亚太地区将成为所有交通燃料的净过剩地区,炼油商不仅将竞争本国和地区的市场份额,还要到亚太地区以外的国家和地区,尤其是欧洲和美国去竞争。     

Academic brands and their impact on scientific endeavour: The case of business market research and researchers

This paper examines the significance of the rapid development of so-called “academic brands” in Marketing for the process of academic research and for the work and the careers of researchers: It focuses on the specific case of business market research and researchers. The paper starts by exploring the ideas behind the development of Consumer Culture Theory (CCT) and its impact on the academic community: CCT appears as an emblematic case of branding of an academic community. The paper then discusses the rapid emergence of the Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) as a case of branding which has a direct impact on business market research. The paper then relates the emergence of these two “brands” to developments in business market research and more specifically to the development of IMP as a brand. Finally, the paper draws some conclusions about the role of academic branding and its impact on scientific endeavour with emphasis on the future of business marketing research and researchers.     

“3·11”日本大地震对能源市场的影响

3月11日以来,日本地震、海啸、核泄漏三重灾害,造成社会经济重大损失。日本经济短期受重创,中期将提振,但长期低迷的局面不会改变;日本地震不会改变全球经济复苏大势;对中国经济的影响利弊共存,但影响有限。地震重创了日本能源体系,将引发全球油气市场供需出现一些新变化：日本部分炼厂关闭致使亚太地区石油供需结构发生变化,成品油价格可能上涨,轻重原油价差可能扩大;核电危机将促使日本大量增加LNG进口,并将影响全球能源结构;日本化工产品生产受到冲击,带动全球部分化工品价格升高。日本核电危机造成各国对核电安全的担忧,可能影响世界各国核电发展,导致油气需求增加、中长期油价走高。日本大地震启示中国：应完善对突发事件的应急响应机制;加快推进天然气价格机制改革,加快发展天然气;适当调整原油和成品油进出口结构,统筹运作;推进与资源国的能源合作,确保能源的长期稳定供应。