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Minimum Quality Standards and Consumers Information

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Author Info
Paolo Garella () (University of Milano, Italy)
Emmanuel Petrakis () (Department of Economics, University of Crete, Greece)

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Abstract

The literature so far has analyzed the effects of Minimum Quality Standards in oligopoly, using models of pure vertical differentiation, with only two firms, and perfect information. We analyze products that are differentiated horizontally and vertically, with imperfect consumers information, and more than two firms. We show that a MQS changes the consumers’ perception of produced qualities. This increases the firms’ returns from quality enhancing investments, notwithstanding contrary strategic effects. As a consequence, MQS policies may be desirable as both, firms and consumers, can gain. This contrasts with previous results in the literature and provides a justification for the use of MQS to improve social welfare.

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File URL: http://www.soc.uoc.gr/econ/wpa/docs/MinimumQualityStandarsf.pdf
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Crete, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers with number 0510.

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Length: 19 pages
Date of creation: 16 Feb 2005
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:crt:wpaper:0510

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Related research
Keywords: Minimum Quality Standards Imperfect Consumer Information

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
L0 - Industrial Organization - - General
L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Valletti, Tommaso M, 2000. "Minimum Quality Standards under Cournot Competition," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 235-45, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Naoto Jinji & Tsuyoshi Toshimitsu, 2004. "Minimum Quality Standards under Asymmetric Duopoly with Endogenous Quality Ordering: A Note," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 189-199, 09. [Downloadable!]
  3. Lutz, Stefan & Lyon, Thomas P & Maxwell, John W, 2000. "Quality Leadership When Regulatory Standards Are Forthcoming," Journal of Industrial Economics, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 48(3), pages 331-48, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Spence, Michael, 1976. "Product Differentiation and Welfare," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(2), pages 407-14, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Ecchia, Giulio & Lambertini, Luca, 1997. "Minimum Quality Standards and Collusion," Journal of Industrial Economics, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(1), pages 101-13, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. Crampes, Claude & Hollander, Abraham, 1995. "Duopoly and quality standards," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 71-82, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Shaked, Avner & Sutton, John, 1982. "Relaxing Price Competition through Product Differentiation," Review of Economic Studies, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(1), pages 3-13, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Maxwell, John W., 1998. "Minimum quality standards as a barrier to innovation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 355-360, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Scarpa, Carlo, 1998. "Minimum quality standards with more than two firms1," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 665-676, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Avinash Dixit, 1979. "A Model of Duopoly Suggesting a Theory of Entry Barriers," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 10(1), pages 20-32, Spring. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Marette, Stéphan, 2007. "Minimum Safety Standard, Consumers’ Information, and Competition (The)," Staff General Research Papers 12718, Iowa State University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Constantine Manasakis & Evangelos Mitrokostas & Emmanuel Petrakis, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Oligopoly," Working Papers 0707, University of Crete, Department of Economics, revised 15 Jan 2007. [Downloadable!]
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