Simplifying the input–output analysis through the use of topological graphs

In this paper, we revise some ideas on Graph Theory and develop them to explain and determine three usual concepts of Input–Output Analysis: fundamental products, autonomous sets, and indecomposable matrices.Firstly, we define a digraph associated with the given economic system (i.e., with its technical coefficients matrix). Secondly, we consider topological properties of this graph to study the economical concepts previously mentioned. Thirdly, we describe different, original algorithms to make the calculations easier. Finally, we give an example from a real economy, Andalusia (a region in Spain).Along this paper, we also discuss the advantages of this new approach and present some ideas to ease its application in the future research.     

Screening consumers through alternative pricing mechanisms

This paper addresses the optimal design of optional nonlinear tariffs. Two particular solutions commonly used in telecommunications and other industries are fully characterized. These optimal outlay schedules illustrate how the tariff design is altered when there exists a time lag between tariff choice and consumption. In this model, consumers' uncertainty is resolved in the interim, between the tariff choice and the usage decision, through changes in their types. The paper studies whether the monopolist may profit from screening consumers according to different information sets, and it shows that expected profits are higher under an ex-post tariff if the variance of the ex-ante type distribution is large enough. The paper also shows that no results regarding social efficiency may be obtained in general. Welfare comparison of optional tariffs will be very sensitive to type distributions, how types enter demand specifications, and the relative variance of the type components.I wish to thank John Panzar for his guidance on the present research and, for his many suggestions over several endless discussions on this paper. I also thank Kyle Bagwell, Robert Porter, and Daniel Spulber for helpful comments and suggestions. Financial support from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Price discrimination in service industries

This article outlines recent methods and applications directed at understanding the profit and consumer welfare implications of increasingly prevalent price discrimination strategies in the service sector. These industries are typically characterized by heterogeneity in consumers?? valuation and usage of the service, resale constraints, and a focus on price as the service??s key attribute. The article focuses on how firms use nonlinear pricing or bundling strategies to benefit from the heterogeneity in consumer demand. We describe the basic economic model commonly used in the literature to analyze such strategic choices and present recent methodological improvements to this benchmark. A discussion of existing applications and future research opportunities concludes the article.     

Testing for complementarity when strategies are dichotomous

We show that it is not possible to extend Arora (1996) reduced form test for the existence of complementarity to evaluate the relationship between a couple of dichotomous strategies as it leads to an incoherent simultaneous discrete response model.     

Smooth inequality measurement: Approximation theorems

The main purpose of this paper is to prove that smoothness is not a restrictive assumption in inequality measurement as any inequality measure (preorder) can be approximated in a well defined sense by a smooth inequality measure (preorder).