A note on the market share-profitability relationship

This study extends earlier empirical work to determine whether there is a breakpoint or critical level in the frequently observed relationship between firm market share and profit rate. The analysis focuses on the banking industry and uses a sample of 10,690 firms located in 2165 different local geographic markets. Though the results apply directly only to banking, the similarity of findings on various other industrial organization topics in banking and the industrial sector suggests that the results of this study will be broadly relevant to the industrial sector.The main findings of the study are that (1) in general, firm market share is directly related to profitability; (2) the firm market share variable remains positive and significant when controlling for market concentration either with concentration as a separate independent variable or by conducting tests with subsamples of firms that are in markets with similar concentration ratios; and (3) while there is no sharp breakpoint in the market share-profitability relationship, the results indicate that profit rates of firms increase at a decreasing rate up to a share of about 55 percent. Since numerous studies have found that economies of scale are not particularly important in banking, it appears that the observed relationship is not due to greater efficiency with larger shares.     

Scale economies in compliance costs for federal consumer credit regulations

This study investigates scale economies in compliance costs for Regulations Z (Truth in Lending) and B (Equal Credit Opportunity) at commercial banks. The major finding of the study is that there are large economies of scale at the lowest output levels, in terms of the volume of consumer credit accounts. This suggests that Regulations Z and B impose a competitive disadvantage on banks with small consumer credit portfolios. However, scale economies decrease rapidly. Thus, the costs of complying with consumer protection regulations do not appear to be a factor that would lead to much greater concentration in consumer lending at banks.     

International competition and exchange rate shocks: a cross-country industry analysis of stock returns

This article systematically examines the importance of exchangerate movements and industry competition for stock returns. Commonshocks to industries across countries are more important thancompetitive shocks due to changes in exchange rates. Weeklyexchange rate shocks explain almost nothing of the relativeperformance of industries. Using returns measured over longerhorizons, the importance of exchange rate shocks increases slightlyand the importance of industry common shocks increases moresubstantially. Both industry and exchange rate shocks are moreimportant for industries that produce internationally tradedgoods, but the importance of these shocks is economically smallfor these industries as well.     

On the economic benefits of software-defined networking and network slicing for smart grid communications

To ensure stable operation, Smart Grids rely on ultra-reliable, low latency communications for transmitting critical measurements and control commands. Though modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides adequate means for asserting hard service guarantees, the installation, configuration and operation of corresponding infrastructures is typically very costly, involving significant administration efforts. Therefore, we propose Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to facilitate configuration and administration drastically, thus reducing expenditures. We identify technical advantages of introducing this approach to Smart Grid communication infrastructures and derive economic benefits. Numerical results for a reference power system indicate Operational Expenditures (OPEX)-driven savings that allow SDN solutions to outperform legacy networks within less than four years. Also, SDN-driven network slicing enables sharing infrastructures between critical power systems and end consumer broadband traffic, allowing for further cost reductions, while maintaining hard service guarantees. Under this paradigm, we compare the installation and operation of dedicated infrastructure by the grid operator to arranging service contracts with telecommunication network operators. This is referred to as make or buy decision. It can be deduced that a shared infrastructure, building on network slicing, provides an optimal solution for both parties.     

Competition in NHS quasi-markets

Recent reforms of the National Health Service have focused attentionon both contracts for health services and competition amongstthe providers of those services as means of ensuring that qualityis maintained at an acceptable standard whilst costs are contained.This paper considers the particular roles that competition maybe expected to play in both health authority and GP fundholderquasi-markets.     

对朱兰博士的缅怀和追忆

一代质量伟人朱兰博士2008年2月29日去了。在悲伤和悼念之余，有着更多的缅怀。 记得第一次见到朱兰博士是在1982年，那年，在国家经委的支持下，中国质协邀请朱兰博士来华讲学，我因奉命组织培训班，得以聆听他的讲课，并能与自己仰慕的专家多一点近距离接触。     

The distribution of wealth: an agent-based approach to examine the effect of estate taxation,skill inheritance,and the Carnegie Effect

Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination - Wealth inequality has been a topic of recent interest worldwide. One means to address wealth inequality may be through estate taxation. To study...