Network Effects, Nonlinear Pricing and Entry Deterrence

Network Effects, Nonlinear Pricing and Entry Deterrence
Author: Arun Sundararajan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

A number of products that display positive network effects are used in variable quantities by heterogeneous customers. Examples include corporate operating systems, infrastructure software, web services and networking equipment. In many of these contexts, the magnitude of network effects are influenced by gross consumption, rather than simply by user base. Moreover, the value an individual customer derives on account of these network effects may be related to the extent of their individual consumption,and therefore, the network effects may be heterogeneous across customers.This paper presents a model of nonlinear pricing in the presence of such network effects, under incomplete information, and with the threat of competitive entry. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous network effectsare modeled. Conditions under which a fulfilled-expectations contract exists and is unique are established. While network effects generally raise prices, it is shown that accompanying changes in consumption dependon the nature of the network effects in some cases, it is optimal for the monopolist to induce no changes in usage across customers, while in others cases, network effects raise the usage of all market participants. Optimal pricing is shown to include quantity discounts that increase with usage, and may also involve a nonlinear two-part tariff. These results highlight the impact of network effects on the standard trade-off between price discrimination and value creation, and have important implications for pricing policy.The threat of entry generally lowers profits for the monopolist, and increases customer surplus. When network effects are homogeneous across customers, the resulting entry-deterring monopoly contract is a fixedfee and results in the socially optimal outcome. However, when the magnitude of heterogeneous network effects is relatively high, there are no changes in total surplus induced by the entry threat, and the pricechanges merely cause a transfer of value from the seller to its customers. The presence of network effects, and of a credible entry threat, are also shown to increase distributional efficiency by reducing the disparity in relative value captured by different customer types. Regulatory and policy implications of these resultsare discussed.

Networks Effects, Nonlinear Pricing and Entry Deterrence

Networks Effects, Nonlinear Pricing and Entry Deterrence
Author: Arun Sundararajan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2009
Genre:
ISBN:

A number of technology products display positive network effects, and are used invariable quantities by heterogeneous customers. Examples include operating systems, infrastructureand back-end software, web services and networking equipment. This paper studies optimalnonlinear pricing for such products, under incomplete information, and with the threat of competitiveentry. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous network effects are modeled. Conditions underwhich a fulfilled-expectations contract exists and is unique are established. While network effectsgenerally raise price, it is shown that accompanying changes in consumption depend on the natureof the network effects - in some cases, it is optimal for the monopolist to induce no changes in usageacross customers, while in others cases, network effects raise the usage of all market participants.Optimal pricing is shown to include quantity discounts that increase with usage, and may also involvea nonlinear two-part tariff. These results highlight the impact of network effects on trade-offsbetween price discrimination and value creation, and have important managerial implications forpricing policy in technology markets.The need to deter competitive entry generally lowers profits for the monopolist, and increasescustomer surplus. When network effects are homogeneous across customers, the resulting entry-deterringmonopoly contract is a fixed fee and results in the socially optimal outcome. However,when the magnitude of heterogeneous network effects is relatively high, there are no changes intotal surplus induced by the entry threat, and the price changes merely cause a transfer of valuefrom the seller to its customers. The presence of network effects, and of a credible entry threat, arealso shown to increase distributional efficiency by reducing the disparity in relative value capturedby different customer types. Regulatory and policy implications of these results are discussed.

Non-Monotonic Network Effects and Market Entry

Non-Monotonic Network Effects and Market Entry
Author: Alex Lundberg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 5
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

The simple circular model of horizontal product differentiation, where firms compete in price, implies an excessive entry of firms in equilibrium. When non-monotonic network effects are present, this result no longer holds. If consumers differ in their optimal number of other consumers choosing the same good, entry in equilibrium can be insufficient.

Nonlinear Pricing with Local Network Effects

Nonlinear Pricing with Local Network Effects
Author: Arne Gramstad
Publisher:
Total Pages: 33
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper presents a model of second-degree price discrimination by a monopolistic seller who offers a menu of price-quantity pair contracts to consumers located in a social network. Network effects are local as consumers' private valuations are increasing in their friends' adoption decisions. When designing the optimal set of contracts, the seller takes into account how these local network effects are generated over the social network. Increased participation generates externalities through a ''market size effect'' (higher participation due to higher valuations) and a ''distribution effect'' (consumers upgrade to a higher quantity contract). Local network effects can induce the seller to offer contracts to some consumer segments at a loss (e.g., by offering a free-of-charge plan). Due to the combination of network effects and asymmetric information a complete market failure can occur, i.e., no output is produced despite some production is socially desirable.

Handbook of Industrial Organization

Handbook of Industrial Organization
Author: Mark Armstrong
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 943
Release: 2007-10-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 008055184X

This is Volume 3 of the Handbook of Industrial Organization series (HIO). Volumes 1 & 2 published simultaneously in 1989 and many of the chapters were widely cited and appeared on graduate reading lists. Since the first volumes published, the field of industrial organization has continued to evolve and this volume fills the gaps. While the first two volumes of HIO contain much more discussion of the theoretical literature than of the empirical literature, it was representative of the field at that time. Since then, the empirical literature has flourished, while the theoretical literature has continued to grow, and this new volume reflects that change of emphasis.Thie volume is an excellent reference and teaching supplement for industrial organization or industrial economics, the microeconomics field that focuses on business behavior and its implications for both market structures and processes, and for related public policies.*Part of the renowned Handbooks in Economics series*Chapters are contributed by some of the leading experts in their fields*A source, reference and teaching supplement for industrial organizations or industrial economists

Handbook of Pricing Research in Marketing

Handbook of Pricing Research in Marketing
Author: Vithala R. Rao
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 617
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1848447442

Pricing is an essential aspect of the marketing mix for brands and products. Further, pricing research in marketing is interdisciplinary, utilizing economic and psychological concepts with special emphasis on measurement and estimation. This unique Handbook provides current knowledge of pricing in a single, authoritative volume and brings together new cutting-edge research by established marketing scholars on a range of topics in the area. The environment in which pricing decisions and transactions are implemented has changed dramatically, mainly due to the advent of the Internet and the practices of advance selling and yield management. Over the years, marketing scholars have incorporated developments in game theory and microeconomics, behavioral decision theory, psychological and social dimensions and newer market mechanisms of auctions in their contributions to pricing research. These chapters, specifically written for this Handbook, cover these various developments and concepts as applied to tackling pricing problems. Academics and doctoral students in marketing and applied economics, as well as pricing-focused business practitioners and consultants, will appreciate the state-of-the-art research herein.

Information Markets

Information Markets
Author: Frank Linde
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
Total Pages: 641
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3110236095

Information Markets is a compendium of the i-commerce, the commerce with digital information, content as well as software. Information Markets is a comprehensive overview of the state of the art of economic and information science endeavors on the markets of digital information. It provides a strategic guideline for information providers how to analyse their market environment and how to develop possible strategic actions. It is a book for information professionals, both for students of LIS (Library and Information Science), CIS (Computer and Information Science) or Information Management curricula and for practitioners as well as managers in these fields.

The Oxford Handbook of the Digital Economy

The Oxford Handbook of the Digital Economy
Author: Martin Peitz
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 615
Release: 2012-08-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0199978638

The economic analysis of the digital economy has been a rapidly developing research area for more than a decade. Through authoritative examination by leading scholars, this handbook takes a closer look at particular industries, business practices, and policy issues associated with the digital industry. The volume offers an up-to-date account of key topics, discusses open questions, and provides guidance for future research. It offers a blend of theoretical and empirical works that are central to understanding the digital economy. The chapters are presented in four sections, corresponding with four broad themes: 1) infrastructure, standards, and platforms; 2) the transformation of selling, encompassing both the transformation of traditional selling and new, widespread application of tools such as auctions; 3) user-generated content; and 4) threats in the new digital environment. The first section covers infrastructure, standards, and various platform industries that rely heavily on recent developments in electronic data storage and transmission, including software, video games, payment systems, mobile telecommunications, and B2B commerce. The second section takes account of the reduced costs of online retailing that threatens offline retailers, widespread availability of information as it affects pricing and advertising, digital technology as it allows the widespread employment of novel price and non-price strategies (bundling, price discrimination), and auctions. The third section addresses the emergent phenomenon of user-generated content on the Internet, including the functioning of social networks and open source. The fourth section discusses threats arising from digitization and the Internet, namely digital piracy, privacy, and security concerns.

Networks

Networks
Author: Kurt Geihs
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 3642574769

New information and communication technologies unquestionably brought about enormous changes that resulted in an ever-increasing networked society. Indeed, there is no area in the social and economic world which is unaffected by the recent advances. In response to these changes scientists from numerous disciplines teamed up in 1997 to lay a foundation for a common theory of networks. The objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind social, economic, technical and other kinds of networks in order to develop a unified theory of networks. Such a theory would then guide public and private decisions concerning the planning, operations and controlling of all kinds of networks. The contributions in this book represent the first steps toward this ambitious goal.