Climate Change,Heterogeneities, and Stability of International Fiscal Harmonization

This paper analyzes the instability introduced into multilateral agreements by two types of heterogeneity: heterogeneity of countries (size and number of producing members) and heterogeneity of lobbies (asymmetric influence at the national versus the international level). The work extends theoretical prospective analyses on environmental taxation, as illustrated by the harmonization of fuel taxes. We show that the acceptability of the tax set at the multilateral level depends on the type of coalitions that participate in the multilateral negotiation (size and number of producing countries) and the asymmetry in the local (state-level) power of lobbies during negotiations.     

Statistical estimate of the proportional hazard premium of loss

The well known Proportional Hazard Premium Principle, introduced by Wang (1996), depends upon the survival function of the insured risk and a risk aversion index. Using this premium principle, we propose an asymptotically normal semi-parametric estimator for the net-premium of a high-excess loss layer of heavy-tailed claim amounts. An algorithm to compute confidence bounds is given. Moreover, a comparison between this estimator and the non-parametric estimator, proposed by Necir & Boukhetala (2004), is carried out.     

Erratum to: ‘Statistical estimate of the proportional hazard premium of loss’

The asymptotic variance of the risk premium estimator, proposed by Necir et al. (2007), is revised, by using the right asymptotic approximation of the uniform empirical quantile process.     

Agrifood Safety Standards,Market Power,and Consumer Misperceptions

This article analyzes how the public regulation of food safety influences a firm's strategic behaviour in a food chain. In this context, we provide an original theoretical framework to show how, regardless of the level of standard, food safety regulation may have unexpected harmful effects. Namely, the level of compliance costs alone cannot explain the producer exclusion due to a high level of standard. We highlight how upstream producers' involvement in the market also depends on the strategic interest of the downstream firm to remunerate their compliance process. Finally, we show how the actual level of risk does not necessarily decrease when the standard is reinforced.     

Economic burden of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Algeria (the ELRAGFA study)

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with substantial public health and economic impact on healthcare systems due to the prevention and management of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications. In Algeria, stroke is a leading cause of death, representing 15.6% of all deaths in 2012. Current data on the epidemiology and costs associated with non-valvular AF (NVAF) in Algeria are not available.

Methods: A three-step approach was undertaken to estimate the economic burden of NVAF in Algeria. First, a literature review identified the epidemiological burden of the disease. Second, expert clinicians practicing in Algerian hospitals were surveyed on consumed resources and unit costs of treatment and management of complications and prevention. Finally, these data were combined with event probabilities in an economic model to estimate the annual cost of NVAF prevention and complications for the Algerian healthcare system.

Results: Based on literature and demographics data, it was estimated that there are currently 187,686 subjects with NVAF in Algeria. Seventy per cent of this population was treated for prevention, half of which were controlled. Cost of prevention was estimated at 203 million DZD (€1.5 million) for drugs and 349 million DZD (€2.6 million) for examinations. Mean hospitalization costs for complications ranged between 123,500 and 435,500 DZD (€910–3,209), according to the type and severity of complications. Hospitalization costs for thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications were estimated at 8,313 million DZD (€62 million), half of which was for untreated patients. Finally, the economic burden of NVAF was estimated at 8,865 million DZD (>€65 million) annually.

Conclusion: The economic burden of NVAF is important in Algeria, largely driven by untreated and INR-uncontrolled patients. There is a lack of information on the Algerian healthcare system that could increase uncertainty around this assessment, but it clearly establishes the importance of NVAF as a public health concern.     

Multiproduct firm behaviour in a differentiated market

Abstract In this paper we offer a generalization of the circular model of product differentiation by introducing a multiproduct firm facing monoproduct competitors. We prove existence and explicitly characterize equilibrium when transportation costs are quadratic. We exhibit interesting equilibrium features for price policy, market shares, and profits. In equilibrium, the multiproduct firm uses its connected market shares to build asymmetric pricing schemes that allow a fraction of its product line (brands, stores or firms) to be shielded from outside competition and hence extracts maximum consumer surplus. Our results shed some light on the link between product differentiation and mergers and acquisitions activity (M&As). JEL Classification: D21, L11, L13
Le comportement de l'entreprise multi‐produits dans un marché différencié Cet article propose une généralisation du modèle circulaire de différenciation des produits en considérant le cas d'une firme multi‐produits en concurrence avec des firmes mono‐produit. Nous montrons l'existence d'un équilibre en prix, que nous caractérisons dans le cas de coûts de transports quadratiques. Nous exposons les propriétés de cet équilibre en terme de parts de marchés et de profits obtenus par les entreprises. A l'équilibre, la firme multi‐produits utilise ses niches de marché pour mettre en place une tarification asymétrique permettant à une partie de sa ligne de produits d'être protégée de la concurrence et d'extraire le maximum de surplus aux consommateurs. Nous proposons ensuite une discussion sur le lien entre différenciation des produits et activité de fusion et acquisition.     

Joint Private Safety Standards and Vertical Relationships in Food Retailing

In recent years, it has become common for downstream firms to impose Joint Private Standards (JPSs) on upstream producers. In this paper, we present an original model of a vertical relationship, explaining the incentives for and the effects of such JPSs with an example concerning food safety. The risk of a food crisis is endogenously determined. Using the concept of cartel stability ( d’Aspremont et al., 1983 ), it is shown that liability rules are crucial for JPSs to emerge, that a JPS can become a minimum quality standard, and that a more stringent JPS does not necessarily reduce the market risk.     

Foreign Direct Investment and Training in the Host Country: The Tariff-Jumping Argument Revisited

We analyze the direct investment versus export decision of a multinational firm in competition with a potential entrant in a host country. We consider a workers' skills asymmetry between the host and the multinational home countries. We also give the multinational the possibility to train all (or a part of) the hired workers when investing. We show that an improvement in the workers' skills in the host country does not systematically increase the multinational incentive to invest. We also demonstrate that the tariff-jumping investment can improve the welfare of the host country even if it excludes the local firm from the market.