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How do demand and costs affect the nature of innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Rosa Battaggion

    (University of Bergamo)

  • Piero Tedeschi

    (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

Abstract

This paper describes how process and product innovations respond to cost and demand changes. In the present model firms simultaneously choose process and product innovations within a model of vertical differentiation and uncovered market. We show that the outcome is unique both in monopoly and in the duopoly. In these outcomes, a demand increase (decrease) enhances (depresses) both process and product innovation, while an increase (decrease) in production costs stimulates (depresses) process innovation but lowers (increases) product one. The insight for these results relies on the scale effect of innovation. Our result can be placed in the ongoing debate on complementarity and substitutability of process and product innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Rosa Battaggion & Piero Tedeschi, 2021. "How do demand and costs affect the nature of innovation?," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 133(3), pages 199-238, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jeczfn:v:133:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s00712-021-00733-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s00712-021-00733-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Akio Kawasaki & Tomomichi Mizuno & Kazuhiro Takauchi, 2023. "Downstream new product development and upstream process innovation," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 209-231, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Process and product innovations; Vertical differentiation; Complementarity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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