This papers studies the effects on service quality and consumer surplus of a minimum price which is fixed by a … assocation will maximize consumer surplus only if consumers demand the highest possible average quality. If consumers demand … services of lesser quality, the association's price floor will be too high if measured by consumer surplus. Moreover we show …

superior firm enters the agreement only if it results in a large enough increase in demand for advertising space at the … competing .rm and a relatively small improvement of the competitor's search quality. Although the superior firm gains market … share, the agreement is beneficial for the inferior firm, as the later firm's additional revenues from a higher advertising …

This paper examines how delivery tariffs and private quality standards are determined in vertical relations that are … downstream firm. In each period, the firms negotiate a delivery contract comprising the quality of the good as well as a non …-linear tariff. Assuming asymmetric information about the actual quality of the product and focusing on incentive compatible …

This paper highlights the strategic role that private quality standards play in food supply chains. Considering two … choice, we show that there exist two asymmetric equilibria in the retailers' quality requirements. The asymmetry is driven by … of private quality standards is detrimental to social welfare. A public minimum quality standard can remedy this …