ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Acquire knowledge about methods and models in industrial economics to be used in business decision making and marketing.

Be able to understand the mechanisms behind the choice of prices, quantities and product and investment in advertising and be able to apply them in a business context.

In order to tackle the course, it is necessary to have learned the basic principles of Microeconomic Analysis. For a reference course (at bachelor level) in Microeconomic Analysis, see the course in Microeconomics within the study program in Business Economics (Microeconomics 1: https://www.unive.it/data/course/311141/programma and Microeconomics 2: https://www.unive.it/data/course/311143/programma ).

1) Price Discrimination and Monopoly: Linear Pricing
2) Price Discrimination and Monopoly: Nonlinear Pricing
3) Product Variety and Quality Under Monopoly
4) Competition and sequential decisions: price, quantity and product choice
5) Advertising, Market Power, Competition and Information

The main textbook for the course is Pepall et al, Organizzazione Industriale, McGraw-Hill. The book is at fourth edition (2023) but the use of this version is not compulsory. Among the different editions there could be discrepancies (for example in the numbering of the exercises) that can easily be overcome by paying sufficient attention.

If needed, references to additional teaching material (articles, videos, slides, etc.) will be provided in class.

The exam is written and lasts 60 minutes.

The test includes multiple choice questions and open questions or exercises of a quantitative and theoretical nature. The exam is considered passed if the grade is at least 18. During the exam it is forbidden to use books, notes, telephones and any other electronic device, except for the calculator. It is not possible to take an oral exam. The exam assesses the knowledge and understanding of course content and the student's ability to use the concepts presented in the course.

Students are invited to contact the course responsible during the first two weeks of the course for clarifications concerning the exam.

Lectures and individual study.

An active lectures' attendance is warmly recommended. An active attendance implies the reading of the book chapters (to be presented in class) before the classes and the independent handling of the exercises suggested by the course responsible.

Note that the exercises are an integral part of the preparation. In this respect, in addition to those indicated by the course responsible, exercises on the course topics can be found in C. Garavaglia. Economia industriale: esercizi e applicazioni, Carocci.

Italian

The detailed programme for the exam and all the mandatory supplementary material will be made available during the course through the Moodle area accessible from the lecturer's web page.

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Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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