The authors modify the price-setting version of the vertically differentiated duopoly model by Aoki (Effect of Credible Quality Investment with Bertrand and Cournot Competition, 2003) by introducing an extended game in which firms noncooperatively choose the timing of moves at the quality stage....

We present a theoretical framework in which an elitist and a non-elitist university in a developed country compete by choosing their admission standards and deciding whether or not to open a branch campus in a developing country. Students from a developing country attend university if either a...

We modify the vertically differentiated duopoly model by André et al. (2009) replacing Bertrand with Cournot behaviour, and we characterise the region wherein a Porter-type result takes place. We show that the Porter hypothesis applies in an equilibrium taking always the form of a prisoner's...

We model a vertically differentiated duopoly with quantity-setting firms as an extended game in which firms noncooperatively choose the timing of moves at the quality stage, to show that at the subgame, perfect equilibrium sequential play obtains, with the low-quality firm taking the leader’s...

In the last few years the superstar phenomenon has found wide circulation, thus increasing the number of people who earn massive incomes thanks to their work. The main aim of this article is to examine the various hypotheses advanced to explain the phenomenon: they can be identified with three...

This paper examines how higher education affects job and marital satisfaction. We build up a model with assortative matching where individuals decide whether to attend university both for obtaining job satisfaction and for increasing the probability to be matched with an educated partner. The...

This paper proposes a theory on how students' social background affects school teaching and job opportunities. We study a set-up where students differ in ability and social background, and we analyse the interaction between a school and an employer. Students with disadvantaged background are...

Educational assortative matching encourages individuals to acquire education so as to increase the probability of marrying a high-income partner. But since everyone is more educated, the chances of a good match do not change. Hence over education emerges, as in absence of educational assortative...

Grade inflation or soft grading is acommon feature of the educational systems of many countries. In this paper I analyse grade inflation in a setting where students differ in social background, a firm decides its hiring strategy and the schools grading policy can be targeted according to student...

We investigate a linear state differential game describing an asymmetric Cournot duo- poly with capacity accumulation à la Ramsey and a negative environmental externality (pollution), in which one of the firms has adopted corporate social responsibility (CSR) in its statute, and therefore...