My philosophical case study concerns textbook presentations of the theory of demand. Does this theory contain anything more than just a collection of tautologies? In order to determine its empirical content, it must be viewed holistically. But then, the theory implies false factual claims. We...

Die Liberalisierung der Elektrizitätsmärkte in Europa hat zu einem deutlichen Strukturwandel der Energiewirtschaft geführt; Überkapazitäten und Wettbewerbsdruck bewirkten eine erhebliche Umorientierung in den Energieversorgungsunternehmen. Durch die zunehmende Liquidität des kurzfristigen...

Our study uses the data collected during the implementation of the tobacco buyout program inKentucky to evaluate how rural households, diverse in income, age, family structure, location,education level, and other characteristics, made a choice between annuities and a lump-sumpayment. Subjects in...

Impulsivity and inconsistency in intertemporal choice have been attracting attention in econophysics and neuroeconomics. Although loss of self-control by substance abusers is strongly related to their inconsistency in intertemporal choice, researchers in neuroeconomics and psychopharmacology...

We develop an analytical framework to investigate the competitiveimplications of personalized pricing and quality allocation (PPQ),whereby rms charge di¤erent prices and o¤erdi¤erent qualities to di¤erent consumers, based on theirwillingness to pay. We embed PPQ in a model of...

As Internet-based commerce becomes increasingly widespread, large datasets about the demand for and pricing of a wide variety of productsbecome available. These present exciting new opportunities for empiricaleconomic and business research, but also raise new statistical issuesand challenges. In...

This paper analyzes the optimal choice of pricing schedules andtechnological deterrence levels in a market with digital piracy wheresellers can influence the degree of piracy by implementing digitalrights management (DRM) systems. It is shown that a monopolist’soptimal pricing schedule can be...

This paper analyzes optimal pricing for information goods underincomplete information, when both unlimited-usage (fixed-fee) pricingand usage-based pricing are feasible and administering usage-basedpricing may involve transaction costs. It is shown that offeringfixed-fee pricing in addition to a...

Electronic commerce has enabled the use of intelligent agenttechnologies that can evaluate buyers, customize products, and price inreal-time. Our model of an electronic market with customizable productsanalyzes the pricing, profitability and welfare implications ofagent-based technologies that...