In this paper we made use of an econometric approach to efficiency analysis in order to capture the role of vertical integration and outsourcing on firm's efficiency. Vertical integration is considered an indicator of structure, while outsourcing represents the process of its change. We consider...

This paper analyzes the relationship between firm efficiency and vertical integration in the Italian machine tool (MT) industry. A theoretical model of entry and competition within an industry has been set up. In this model firms can choose either to be vertically integrated or not: the most...

Productive efficiency in hotels varies greatly. Based on a large dataset on the hotel industry in an Italian region, a two-stage approach was used, first to distinguish the component of inefficiency arising from external factors, linked to destination, and then to isolate the role that...

Nel pensiero di alcuni economisti classici (Smith, Babbage, Marx e Marshall) si rinviene l'origine di due tradizioni interpretative dell'impresa capitalistica, intesa come istituzione in grado di gestire la divisione del lavoro. La prima è connessa all'idea di indivisibilità dei fattori e di...

L'articolo pone a confronto il modello di sviluppo del Trentino Alto Adige con quello generale del Nord-Est cercando di isolarne le determinanti specifiche in modo da valutare la sostenibilità nel tempo del modello di sviluppo seguito dalla regione alpina. A tal fine vengono analizzate in...

This paper suggests a class of stochastic collective learning processes exhibiting very irregular behavior. In particular, there are multimodal long run distributions. Some of these modes may vanish as the population size increases. This may be thought of as "bubbles" persistent for a finite...

In this paper we make use of a particular technique of data analysis to empirically study the effect of joint attributes presentation in a multi-step process of choice, in which consumers first use a simple method for shortlisting, then proceed with a closer inspection of a restrict number of...

In this paper we interpreted the decision to vote for a particular party as a process of delegation to decision makers having a simplified system of preferences. Each person in a population votes for the political party that place priority on one or more issues that they consider important....

In this work we present a critical assessment of some problems and open questions on the debated notion of modularity. Modularity is greatly in fashion nowadays, being often proposed as the new approach to complex artefact production that enables to combine fast innovation pace, enhanced product...

In the presence of externalities, consumption behaviour depends on the solution of a co-ordination problem. In our paper we suggest a learning approach to the study of co-ordination in consumption contexts where agents adjust their choices on the basis of the reinforcement (payoff) they receive...