We develop a theoretical model of optimal licensing schemes for quality-improving innovations. We consider an oligopolistic market where two downstream firms compete in price and the upstream innovator holds a technology that may create differentiation between the products. Our results show that...

Many consumer demand situations exist in which individuals have a preference for variety that leads to multiple products being chosen. For example, clothing, food, books, and music are regularly purchased several items at a time. Prior to a purchase decision consumers face product uncertainty...

Firms are increasingly using technology to enable targeted, or "personalized" pricing strategies. In settings where prices are transparent to all consumers, however, there is the potential that inter-personal price differences will be perceived as inherently unfair. In response, firms may...

Weather derivatives represent an important financial innovation for risk management. As with the use of any derivatives contract, the behaviour of the basis ultimately determines the net-hedged outcome. However, when using weather derivatives to hedge volumetric risks, risk managers often face...