Discrete Choice Theory of Product Differentiation

Discrete Choice Theory of Product Differentiation
Author: Simon P. Anderson
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 454
Release: 1992
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780262011280

"The discrete choice approach provides an ideal framework for describing the demands for differentiated products and can be used for studying most product differentiation models in the literature. By introducing extra dimensions of product heterogeneity, the framework also provides richer models of firm location and product selection."--BOOK JACKET.

Unobserved Product Differentiation in Discrete Choice Models

Unobserved Product Differentiation in Discrete Choice Models
Author: Daniel A. Ackerberg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 33
Release: 2002
Genre: Consumers' preferences
ISBN:

Standard discrete choice models such as logit, nested logit, and random coefficients models place very strong restrictions on how unobservable product space increases with the number of products. We argue (and show with Monte Carlo experiments) that these restrictions can lead to biased conclusions regarding price elasticities and welfare consequences from additional products. In addition, these restrictions can identify parameters which are not intuitively identified given the data at hand. We suggest two alternative models that relax these restrictions, both motivated by structural interpretations. Monte-Carlo experiments and an application to data show that these alternative models perform well in practice

The Economic Theory of Product Differentiation

The Economic Theory of Product Differentiation
Author: John Beath
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 220
Release: 1991-02-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780521335522

There are few industries in modern market economies that do not manufacture differentiated products. This book provides a systematic explanation and analysis of the widespread prevalence of this important category of products. The authors concentrate on models in which product selection is endogenous. In the first four chapters they consider models that try to predict the level of product differentiation that would emerge in situations of market equilibrium. These market equilibria with differentiated products are characterised and then compared with social welfare optima. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between horizontal and vertical differentiation as well as to the related issues of product quality and durability. This book brings together the most important theoretical contributions to these topics in a succinct and coherent manner. One of its major strengths is the way in which it carefully sets out the basic intuition behind the formal results. It will be useful to advanced undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in industrial economics and microeconomic theory.

Estimating Substitution Patterns and Demand Curvature in Discrete-choice Models of Product Differentiation

Estimating Substitution Patterns and Demand Curvature in Discrete-choice Models of Product Differentiation
Author: Cameron Birchall
Publisher:
Total Pages: 27
Release: 2022
Genre: Consumers' preferences
ISBN:

We extend BLP's aggregate discrete-choice model of product differentiation to create more flexibility in the price functional form. We apply a Box-Cox specification, which relaxes the typical unit demand assumption and creates flexibility on demand curvature. The model provides a unifying framework for mixed logit and mixed CES models. Our illustrative application to the ready-to-eat cereals market shows that the cross-sectional relation between price elasticities and average prices per product is more in line with descriptive elasticity patterns. Furthermore, it suggests lower cross-price elasticities between similarly priced products than in more restrictive specifications.

Operations Research and Decision Aid Methodologies in Traffic and Transportation Management

Operations Research and Decision Aid Methodologies in Traffic and Transportation Management
Author: Martine Labbe
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 364
Release: 1998-10-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9783540646525

This is a collection of state-of-the-art surveys on topics at the interface between transportation modeling and operations research given by leading international experts. Based on contributions to a NATO workshop, the surveys are up-to-date and rigorous presentations or applications of quantitative methods in the area. The subjects covered include dynamic traffic simulation techniques and dynamic routing in congested networks, operation and control of traffic management tools, optimized transportation data collection, and vehicle routing problems.

Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation

Discrete Choice Methods with Simulation
Author: Kenneth Train
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 399
Release: 2009-07-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0521766559

This book describes the new generation of discrete choice methods, focusing on the many advances that are made possible by simulation. Researchers use these statistical methods to examine the choices that consumers, households, firms, and other agents make. Each of the major models is covered: logit, generalized extreme value, or GEV (including nested and cross-nested logits), probit, and mixed logit, plus a variety of specifications that build on these basics. Simulation-assisted estimation procedures are investigated and compared, including maximum stimulated likelihood, method of simulated moments, and method of simulated scores. Procedures for drawing from densities are described, including variance reduction techniques such as anithetics and Halton draws. Recent advances in Bayesian procedures are explored, including the use of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm and its variant Gibbs sampling. The second edition adds chapters on endogeneity and expectation-maximization (EM) algorithms. No other book incorporates all these fields, which have arisen in the past 25 years. The procedures are applicable in many fields, including energy, transportation, environmental studies, health, labor, and marketing.

A Hybrid Discrete Choice Model of Differentiated Product Demand with an Application to Personal Computers

A Hybrid Discrete Choice Model of Differentiated Product Demand with an Application to Personal Computers
Author: Minjae Song
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

In this article, I consider a new discrete choice model of differentiated product demand that distinguishes a brand-level differentiation from a product-level differentiation. The model is a hybrid of the random coefficient logit model of Berry et al. (Econometrica 63 (1995), 841-90) and the pure characteristics model of Berry and Pakes (International Economic Review 48 (2007), 1193-1225) and describes markets where firms offer multiple products of different qualities under the same brand name. I compare the hybrid model with existing models using data on personal computers. Using the estimates of the hybrid model, I also provide empirical evidence that firms reposition their brands in a postmerger market.