On platforms,incomplete contracts,and open source software

We analyze investment incentives for a firm A owning a software platform and an application and a firm B deciding whether to develop a new application for the platform. While B's entry helps the success of the platform, B fears ex post expropriation by A and is hence reluctant to enter and invest. We show that different platform governance structures prevalent in the Information and Communication Technology industry (integrated, proprietary, standardized, open source platform) serve to balance investment incentives for the platform and for the applications.     

Do Retail Foreign Direct Investment Restrictions Affect Retail Channel Structure?

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing retail channel structure research by investigating the impact of retail foreign direct investment (FDI) restrictions on retail channel structure as well as the moderating impact of a country's level of economic development on this relationship. Using a panel data set of 79 countries over the period 1999–2012, we show that retail FDI restrictions can influence retail channel structure development and that the relationship between retail FDI restrictions and retail channel structure is moderated by a country's level of economic development.     

Local governance in the new information ecology: the challenge of building interpretative communities

A key aspect of the ‘big society’ discourse in England is an enhanced role for voluntary organizations in the delivery of public services. However , Conservative philosophy draws upon the contradictory positions of market liberals favouring the free market and a small state, and those favouring community self-help and local distinctiveness. This article explores how these tensions were played out in parliamentary debate over the second reading of the Public Services (Social V alue) Bill. The authors argue that these tensions reflect unresolved issues within the UK Conservative party, and that market liberals will have the upper hand.     

Designing the European Road Safety Observatory

The unavailability of consistent traffic accident data and road safety information limits the opportunities to provide target approaches to reduce road crashes. The European commission has decided to meet the demand for this data by establishing a new Road Safety Observatory. The structure and much of the initial content is being developed within the SafetyNet Integrated Project. This paper describes the structure of its key components.     

Marketing channel evolution: From contactual efficiency to brand value co-creation and appropriation within the platform enterprise

Abstract

In recent years, major technological advances have been a primary force driving channel evolution. In particular, the Internet of things has provided a means for some firms to experience the rise of one of the most innovative and cutting-edge channels—the platform enterprise (i.e., firms such as Amazon, Etsy, and Airbnb). We examine the platform enterprise through a marketing channel evolution lens. In doing so, we point to key factors that enable particular kinds of firms to forge unique marketing channels. As platform enterprises, these channels offer value that transcends contactual efficiency, because they utilize their resources and capabilities not only to connect buyers and sellers efficiently but also to create a community of stakeholders whose collective efforts are focused on two linked priorities—brand value co-creation and brand value appropriation.     

Habitat and commodity production trade-offs in coastal Oregon

Ecological, economic, and social goals are important in natural resource management, and should be analyzed in concert when, for example, one wishes to consider the impact(s) of potential forest policies on such goals. The current article describes a large-scale, integrated trade-off analysis, for coastal Oregon (USA). It considers two key management goals for both private and public forest landowners—producing timber and developing and maintaining wildlife habitat—using variations on typical management policies. The proposed model employs a heuristic to schedule harvests in an attempt to produce a high, even level of timber volume. Constraints include those related to the maximum clearcut size, green-up period, and minimum harvest age. Habitat capability for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) is computed using a spatial model, and reported as an output of the forest plan. The spatial model we used is the most advanced methodology for estimating spotted owl habitat quality. The problem formulation accounts for many of the concerns regarding strategic and tactical planning voiced by forest managers in the Pacific Northwest (USA) region. Our analysis suggests that increasing the minimum harvest age of forests in coastal Oregon has the greatest effect (vs. maximum clearcut size and minimum green-up [regrowth] period) on spotted owl habitat capability index levels. At the same time, however, even-flow harvest levels (highest and most even level of timber volume produced over time) are negatively affected as near-term harvests become more difficult to schedule.