The dissertation studies a model of an economy which produces and exports durable goods. It analyzes the optimal monetary policy for such a country. Generally, monetary policy has a bigger economic effect on durable goods relative to non-durable goods because durable goods can be stored and households get utility from the stock of durable goods. This dissertation shows that, in Nash equilibrium, the central bank of a durable goods producing country can control changes of the price level with smaller changes in the monetary policy instrument. In the cooperative equilibrium, the monetary authority of the country which imports non-durable goods and exports durable goods should raise the interest rate by more, relative to the Nash case, in response to a rise in foreign inflation. On the other hand, the monetary authority of the country which imports durable goods and exports non-durable goods should raise the interest rate by less than the other country.

This dissertation is concerned with strategic decision processes in markets where products are both durable and differentiated in quality. Thus, a commodity is differentiated in a two dimensional space (a) its consumption time location, and (b) its quality characteristics. Consumers "self-select" a product among various differentiated products. There exists a one-to-one correspondence between a consumer group and a product with a certain quality in a certain period. A monopolist seller, a monopolist lessor, and a sequential entry duopoly seller market are studied in the framework of a two-period, two-quality model. When product diversification is feasible, the monopoly power of the seller is greatly increased. A seller adopts strategic quality introduction sequence so that the amount of competition from the second-hand market is endogenously selected by the seller. Hence, a seller is able to discriminate among consumers in both intertemporal and contemporaneous fashion. Equilibria are sensitive to the speed of technological advancement. If technology develops slowly, a seller adopts a strategic quality introduction sequence such that it introduces high quality first and low quality later, so that the creation of second-hand market is eliminated. When technology advancement is significant over time, a seller introduces low quality first and high quality later, so that a group of consumers will update the quality of the product they consume over time.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiteit Twente, 1998. / Summary in Dutch. Includes bibliographical references (p. 249).

As durables are essential in many households, the level of ownership is high and, due to the high degree of penetration, a vast proportion of the current sales are replacement purchases. Even though a lot of research attention has been paid to decision making and decision processes many models are oriented towards non-durable goods and although a majority of purchases of many durable goods are replacements, few studies seem to make a distinction between a replacement purchase decision and a decision to buy an item for the first time. The purpose of this thesis has been to increase the understanding of the consumer decision process in replacement purchase. More specifically, the research focus has been on the cognitive mechanisms behind the formation of a replacement decision and on factors affecting the timing of a replacement purchase of durable goods. Choosing to study the timing of replacement decisions reflects the emphasis on the ongoing process, not merely on what is happening at a certain moment. Many studies in the consumer behaviour research are cross-sectional and by using cross-sectional data, there is a risk of identifying cohort effects rather then identifying effects stemming from the individual process over time. This thesis' focus on the process is reflected in and emphasised by the choice of method, both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study have been undertaken. In order to address the research question, a theoretical framework and model were developed. The model is based on the traditional idea that many actual purchase decisions are realised through the approach of problem solving, entailing problem identification, information search, evaluation of alternatives, choice, and action. The underlying assumption of the model is that purchase expectations are related to a comparison between an aspiration level, defined in accordance with Simon's (1956) satisficing principle, and an evaluation of the currently owned product (current level). Purchase expectations are believed to be the result of a cognitive process encompassing the comparison between aspiration level and current level. When the discrepancy between aspiration level and current level goes beyond a noticeable difference, a purchase expectation is assumed to be formed and the purchase process initiated. The results from this studyreveal that the cognitive mechanism behind a replacement decision can be explained in accordance with the proposed model: Consumers compare the currently owned product with requirements of product for the same usage and if the current product falls below the requirements, replacement plans are formed. The timing of the replacement is therefore argued to depend both on factors effecting the requirements of a product for the same usage (the aspiration level), and on factors affecting the perception of the current product (the current level). Moreover, the study indicates that problem identification initiated through a change either in aspiration level or in current level might evoke different decision strategies and consequently, the problem identification stage might be more important for marketing strategies than previously assumed. The results aslo highlight the importance of considering the consumers present stage in the decision process for achieving an efficient segmentation for market communication as product attributes important early in the process might not be important later in the process. / <p>Diss. Umeå : Univ.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Habilitationsschrift--Bonn, 1971. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [209]-217) and index.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / Statement of the Problem. - The major thesis is that cyclical sensitivity of New England Standard Metropolitan Areas is a function of any one or a combination of the following variables: 1. specialization in manufacturing industries as opposed to non-manufacturing industries, 2. specialization in durable goods industries as opposed to non-durable goods industries, 3. specialization in a few major "S.I.C. two-digit" manufacturing industries, 4. degree of transition in the structure of manufacturing [TRUNCATED]

No description available.

Au Chun Chung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-85). / List of Figures --- p.iii / List of Symbols and Abbreviations --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Characteristics of the Monopolistic Durable Market --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Technological Improvement in Production --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Expectation and Commitment Power --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- The Second-Hand Market of Durable Goods --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Trade-In --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6 --- Valuation vs. Willingness-to-Pay --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter II --- An Overview of the Literature --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1 --- Coase Conjecture --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Dynamic Pricing and Sales Strategy --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- Durability and Planned Obsolescence --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4 --- Models of Second-Hand Market --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5 --- Other Papers of Interest --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter III --- The Models --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Basic Setup and the General Method --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Model 1 - The Basic Model (M,C and NC)" --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- Model 2 - A Model with Second-Hand Market (S) --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4 --- Model 3 - A Model with Trade-In (T) --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter IV --- Conclusions --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1 --- Conclusions --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Further Research Directions --- p.82 / References --- p.84

No description available.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a dinâmica (dispersão e variação) dos preços de um conjunto de bens duráveis praticados pelos varejistas em lojas virtuais brasileiras. As informações foram coletadas por um sistema automático de captura, ao longo de um ano completo (2014). Três hipóteses foram formuladas. A primeira hipótese estabeleceu que, apesar das características homogêneas dos produtos comercializados, deveriam persistir diferenças significativas entre os preços praticados pelos diferentes varejistas. A segunda hipótese propôs a ideia de que, para produtos tecnologicamente mais simples, as diferenças de preços entre os competidores deveriam ser menos acentuadas quando comparadas com itens mais complexos. A terceira hipótese provém de uma ideia semelhante, entretanto, fixa-se na comparação de preços praticada em diferentes períodos do ano. Supôs-se que, em momentos nos quais a sazonalidade é de aumento forte das vendas (por exemplo, \"Black Friday\" ou o Dia das Mães), as variações de preços devem ser menores que as registradas em outros períodos do ano. A análise dos modelos, utilizando 767481 observações concluiu pela não rejeição das três hipóteses. / The purpose of this work is to study the dynamics of retail durable goods prices. A set of representative products traded on the Internet channel was chosen. The information set was surveyed with the use of an automatic data collection system, throughout the whole year of 2014. Three hypotheses were proposed. The first hypothesis states that despite the fact that the products are relatively homogeneous, meaningful prices differences among the retailers should be found. The second hypothesis affirms that durable goods which are technologically simpler than other ones, more sophisticated, should unveil fewer price differences. The third and the last hypothesis proposes that in periods when the demand is more intense (Mother´s Day in May, or Black Friday in November, for instance), the price differences should be less pronounced. The tests carried out, using 767481 cases, did not reject the three hypotheses.