Standardization and Expectations
Over the last decades, technological progress has brought about a multitude of standardization problems. For instance, compatibility standards ensure the interoperability of goods, which is of decisive importance when users face positive externalities in
- PDF / 4,538,064 Bytes
- 124 Pages / 439.361 x 666.133 pts Page_size
- 15 Downloads / 210 Views
562
Tobias Langenberg
Standardization and Expectations
^ S p rringer i
Author Tobias Langenberg University of Hamburg Department of Economics Institute of Public Finance Von-Melle-Park 5 20146 Hamburg Germany
ISSN 0075-8442 ISBN-10 3-540-28112-6 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York ISBN-13 978-3-540-28112-2 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9,1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. Springer is a part of Springer Science+Business Media springeronline.com © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006 Printed in Germany The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Typesetting: Camera ready by author Cover design: Erich Kirchner, Heidelberg Printed on acid-free paper
42/3130J6
5 4 3 2 10
Preface
This book has been accepted as my doctoral thesis by the Department of Economics at the University of Hamburg. First of all, I am indebted to my supervisor, Prof Manfred Holler, for his scientific guidance and support. At his Institute of SocioEconomics, I have found an environment that was ideal for my research. I would also like to thank Prof Hans-Joachim Hofmann and Prof Wilhelm Pfahler for helpful comments. I am also very grateful to Prof Gunther Engelhardt for supporting me during my time as Teaching and Research Assistant at the Institute of Public Finance, University of Hamburg. I have received valuable comments from a large number of people. I wish to thank in particular my colleagues Heide Coenen, Jorg Grondahl and Ingolf Meyer Larsen for interesting and inspiring discussions. Finally, I thank my parents and my brother for their encouragement and help.
Hamburg, September 2005
Tobias Langenberg
Contents
1
Introduction
1
2
The Economics of Standardization: Basic Concepts 2.1 Taxonomy of Standards 2.2 Compatibility Standards and the Concept of Network Effects 2.2.1 Direct Network Effects 2.2.2 Indirect Network Effects
3
Standardization of Educational Signals and Job Matching 17 3.1 Introduction 17 3.2 The Basic Signaling Model 19 3.3 The Job-Matching Effect of Educational Signals 22 3.3.1 Model Structure 23 3.3.2 Equilibrium Analysis 23 3.3.3 Welfare Implications 25 3.3.4 Job Matching with a Small Number of Employees 27 3.4 Standardization of Examination Requirements 30 3.4.1 Model Structure 30 3.4.2 Bayesian Equilibria 31 3.4.3 Welfare Implica
Data Loading...
