This paper considers a functional quality degradation of software with twoway features (such as reading and writing in word-processors). A software monopolist differentiates products by introducing a functionally down-graded version (e.g. the read-only version) by eliminating some functions of the full version. A simple two-type model is presented to explain the firm’s incentive to introduce a functionally down-graded version. It is shown that the functional quality degradation is an effective consumer screening device, especially when consumers’ valuation for each function is negatively correlated. With network externalities, the firm may wish to offer the down-graded good below cost or even free of charge in many cases (including the case where introducing the quality-degraded version does not involve a market expansion). The welfare consequence of this kind of quality degradation is generally ambiguous, and critically depends on how the total market size changes by the introduction of the quality-degraded version.
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Length: 20 pages Date of creation: 2000 Date of revision:
Jan 2001 Publication status: Published in Journal of Industrial Economics, Volume 54, Issue 2, June 2006, pages 253-268 (revised version with G. Csorba). [ doi:10.1111/j.1467-6451.2006.00282.x ] Handle: RePEc:kee:keeldp:2000/12
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Find related papers by JEL classification: L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
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.:
Nicholas Economides, 1995.
"The Economics of Networks,"
Working Papers
94-24, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics, revised Sep 1995.
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