La evolución del pensamiento político ha intentado dar respuesta acerca de cómo funciona el mundo, lo cual, supone una multiplicidad de planos analíticos. El presente estudio intenta explicar, particularmente, el relativo a la interrelación existente entre los cambios en la estructura internacional de poder y el traslado del epicentro económico mundial. Dicha interrelación corrobora la existencia de un común denominador conceptual que se erige como eje del análisis: el oligopolio de grandes poderes. La lógica de interacción entre política y economía formula el problema de investigación sintéticamente en un interrogante clave a dilucidar: ¿Por qué el ascenso y descenso de las grandes potencias en la estructura internacional de poder corrobora el cambio del epicentro económico mundial hacia el Pacífico norte? De frente al mencionado interrogante el objetivo general es explicar, el tránsito del epicentro económico mundial a partir del cambio en la estructura internacional de poder y la alteración en la composición del oligopolio de grandes poderes, entre 1989 y 2006. El segmento histórico propuesto resulta pertinente porque remite a una serie de discontinuidades fácticas de valor analítico para la evolución cognoscitiva de la disciplina y para la formulación de políticas exteriores.

[pt] O mercado brasileiro de derivados de petróleo está sendo aberto para competição este ano, saindo de um ambiente de preços regulados pelo Governo Federal para um ambiente onde os preços são estabelecidos pelas leis de oferta e demanda. Neste contexto, existe a preocupação de como serão estes preços, e seus impactos sobre os consumidores e sobre os produtores locais. Esta Tese propõe alguns modelos matemáticos para estimar preços, níveis de produção, níveis de consumo (demanda), e importação e exportação de derivados de petróleo nas diversas regiões do mercado brasileiro. O fornecimento de derivados de petróleo não é considerado um mercado competitivo, e sim oligopolizado, principalmente no curto prazo, devido à capacidade instalada de refinarias e aos altos custos envolvidos na construção de novas refinarias. Estes modelos são multi- produto, considerando um fato importante na produção de derivados que é a impossibilidade de produzir apenas um derivado. Assim, existem restrições onde a oferta de um derivado é relacionada a oferta dos outros. O primeiro modelo considera um mercado de oligopólio fechado, com um número fixo de firmas. Tal modelo é formulado como um problema de equilíbrio a Nash. Um segundo modelo é apresentado expandindo o primeiro para o caso em que existem preços teto de demanda definidos politicamente. O terceiro modelo relaxa a suposição do mercado fechado, com número fixo de firmas, e considera a possibilidade de competição de novas firmas no mercado. Um quarto modelo é discutido, onde assume-se que existe uma firma líder no mercado, que consegue definir sua estratégia antes das demais firmas, semelhante ao problema econômico de Stackelberg. Todos os modelos foram formulados como problemas de inequações variacionais, sendo que o último modelo é ainda um problema de programação binível. Algoritmos de solução são propostos para os três primeiros modelos. Simulações sobre o mercado brasileiro de derivados são apresentadas. / [en] The Brazilian petroleum refined products market is being opened to competition this year, leaving an environment of regulated prices to another one where the prices are defined by the supply demand interactions. Considering this new scenario, there is a concern about how high the prices will be, and about their impact on the consumers and on the local producers. This thesis proposes some mathematical models to predict prices, production, consumption, and import and export levels of petroleum-refined products in all the sub-regions of the Brazilian market. Instead of a competitive market, the supply of refined products is considered an oligopoly market, especially in the short term, given the already installed refining capacity and the high costs involved in building new refineries. These models are multi-products, and they consider an important characteristic of the production of refined products, the impossibility of producing only one refined product. Hence, constraints where the production of one refined product is related to the production of the others are considered. The first model considers a closed oligopoly market, with a fixed number of firms. This problem is formulated as a Nash equilibrium problem. A second model is presented generalizing the first one to consider the possibility of ceiling demand prices politically defined. The third model relaxes the assumption of a fixed number of firms in the first model, and considers the possibility of competition by new entrants. A fourth model is discussed, where it is assumed that there is a leader firm in the market, which can define its strategy before the other firms, similar to the economic problem of Stackelberg. All the models are formulated as variational inequalities problems, and the last model is also a bi-level programming problem. Solution algorithms for the three first models are proposed. Some analyses of the Brazilian petroleum refined- products market are presented.

Esta tesis consiste en una serie de estudios empíricos sobre la industria de los ordenadores personales basados en datos de 8 países americanos (Argentina, Brasil, Canadá, Chile, Colombia, Estados Unidos, México y Perú) entre 2005 y 2007, y se compone de 3 capítulos. En el primer capítulo se analizan estadísticamente las principales características de esta industria. El segundo capítulo aporta una visión panorámica del escenario competitivo, ofrece una estimación de la demanda y del poder de mercado por grupos de empresa, e interpreta la lógica económica de los cambios observados en Latinoamérica a raíz del proceso de migración hacia la portabilidad. El tercer capítulo representa una contribución a la literatura sobre el análisis retrospectivo de las fusiones. En él se estudia el impacto sobre precios del anuncio y la fusión Acer – Gateway, ocurridos durante 2007 y que permitió a estas firmas convertirse en el tercer proveedor mundial de ordenadores personales. / This dissertation consists of empirical studies on the industry of personal computers (PCs). These studies are based on quarterly data for the period 2005-2007 from eight countries of the Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the US, Mexico, and Peru. The dissertation is organized in three chapters. The first chapter presents a statistical summary of the main features of the PC industry. The second chapter offers an outlook of the PC industry (with special emphasis on the competitive structure), an estimation of both the demand for PCs and the firms’ market power, and a discussion of the changes caused by the PC portability phenomenon. The third chapter contributes to the literature on the retrospective study of mergers and acquisitions by analyzing the 2007 acquisition of the US computer hardware company Gateway by the Taiwan-based international computer company Acer, which created the third largest PC maker in the world.

El presente informe contiene un análisis del contenido de la Resolución N°0030- 2018/SDC-INDECOPI, la cual se dio en el marco del Expediente N°0031- 2015/CD1-INDECOPI a raíz de la denuncia de América Móvil Perú S.A.C. (en adelante, América Móvil) en contra de Entel Perú S.A.C. (de ahora en adelante, Entel) por infracciones a la leal competencia en las modalidades de engaño, legalidad, denigración y comparación indebida. Al respecto, en este informe se analizará en específico la publicidad alusiva dada en las campañas publicitarias “Experiencia 4G-Entel” y “Entel Prepago – Superbolsas” y la consecuente comparación indebida. Siendo así, a través del uso de la Ley de Represión de la Competencia Desleal, aprobada mediante Decreto Legislativo N°1044 (en adelante, LRCD), jurisprudencia y doctrina se llegó a la conclusión de que el criterio de Indecopi no es suficiente para determinar la alusión inequívoca indirecta puesto que en oligopolios altamente concentrados no será necesario el factor de elementos adicionales para establecer publicidad alusiva, dado que la estructura del mercado será suficiente para que el receptor de la publicidad pueda identificar y determinar a qué empresas de la competencia se está haciendo referencia. Finalmente, también se critica lo determinado por esta entidad pues no se tomó en consideración todos los factores alegados por el denunciante, haciendo deficiente su resolución. / This report contains an analysis of the content of Resolution No. 0030-2018/SDCINDECOPI, which was issued within the framework of Case No. 0031-2015/CD1- INDECOPI following the complaint by América Móvil Perú S.A.C. (hereinafter referred to as "América Móvil") against Entel Perú S.A.C. (hereinafter referred to as "Entel") for violations of fair competition in the forms of deception, illegality, denigration, and improper comparison. In this report, we will specifically analyze the advertising content presented in the "Experiencia 4G-Entel" and "Entel Prepago - Superbolsas" advertising campaigns, as well as the consequent improper comparison. Therefore, by using the Unfair Competition Repression Law, approved by Legislative Decree No. 1044 (hereinafter referred to as the "UCRL"), jurisprudence, and doctrine, it was concluded that Indecopi's criteria are insufficient to determine unequivocal indirect allusion since in highly concentrated oligopolies, additional elements are not necessary to establish allusive advertising, as the market structure itself is sufficient for the recipient of the advertising to identify and determine which competing companies are being referred to. Finally, this entity's determination is also criticized for not considering all the factors alleged by the complainant, rendering its resolution deficient.

Background: It has been shown that companies that lived under protected conditions for a long time have had difficulties to adapt to major changes. With that in mind an even more extensive low-cost competition in the Swedish grocery market will make a threat for the traditional grocery stores' long-term survival. The question then becomes, which strategies will be successful and lead to higher customer loyalty. Problem: Are the traditional grocery stores using strategies that can compete in addition to pricing and will those strategies lead to long-term survival? Objective: Is to analyse and evaluate two traditional grocery stores' strategies and to examine whether these are consistent with customer demand. Approach: First we have created a more fundamental understanding of the situation in the Swedish grocery market. Then we have implemented two interviews in each grocery store. The first one is done with the store manager and the second one is done whit one of the staff members. Finally, we have also performed a survey directed to the stores' customers. Basic perspective: The study is based on a Relationship perspective and a Transactional perspective. Theories: “Theory of Value Star and Value Chain”, “Service Profit Chain”, “Value Theory”, “Value creation processes”,” Brand Theory” and “Involvement Theory”. Empiricism: Is based on the information gathered by interviews done in the two grocery stores and customers' responses to the survey. Analysis: Is based on the empirical data. Results: The study shows that both stores have customers that are relatively highinvolved and that both of these stores work with high involvement values. Conclusion: Both stores have strategies that extend beyond pricing. However, there are major shortcomings in terms of involving the customers in the process of creating value, which also affects customer loyalty. The stores' different structure of ownership also affects how they are organized and make decisions. Currently, Coop has a bigger problem than ICA because of low customer loyalty and limited adaptability.

La naturaleza potencialmente anticompetitiva de las prácticas impartidas desde las organizaciones de profesionales ha sido racionalizada por la literatura económica y ha ocupado un lugar no menor en la agenda de los organismos de defensa de la competencia. Sin embargo, la economía empírica carece de estudios sobre el ejercicio profesional autorregulado. Este trabajo relaciona los mercados de servicios profesionales con los modelos de diferenciación vertical y emplea un modelo Logit Mixto para evaluar la conducta del desempeño médico en Argentina. La evidencia hallada sugiere la existencia de algún acuerdo de precios. / The potentially anticompetitive nature of some practices driven by professional organizations has been approached in economic literature and appears as an important issue in the antitrust organism's agenda. However, empirical economics lacks of a self-regulated professionals analysis. This work relates the market for professional services with vertical product differentiation models and uses a Mixed Logit model to assess the medical profession behavior in Argentina. The evidence suggests the existence of a price arrangement. / Tesis de la Maestría en Economía, bajo la dirección de Fernando Navajas, de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

La concentración bancaría es la posición de dominio de algunos bancos que manejan el mercado cuya capacidad de contorl se extiende a un importante porcentaje de los depósitos y las colocaciones del mercado financiero en el que operan, lo que genera distorsiones en el mercado por la afectación en las tasas de interés y el acceso al crédito. Debido a la importancia que tienen las concentraciones, esta investigación busca determinar si la concentración bancaria genera o facilita el acceso al crédito y el desarrollo del entorno macroeconómico. En un primer momento, se ha explicado la diferenciación entre las concentraciones públicas o privadas, variedad que responde a sus objetivos y naturaleza de ser: mientras que las privados tienden a buscar beneficios económicos, aquellas controladas por el Estado tienden a masificar el acceso al crédito. En el segundo capítulo, se ha desarrollado cómo estos grupos de poder buscan la creación de oligopolios mediante integraciones verticales y horizontales con el fin de controlar el mercado. En el tercer capítulo, se ha profundizado en el rol que cumplen los entes reguladores como las superintendencias y los bancos de reserva para fijar parámetros que conserven la estabilidad del sistema financiero a través de normas de cumplimiento de ratios de solvencia y límites legales para las colocaciones. En el cuarto capítulo, se ha dado alcances sobre cómo las supervisoras controlan los seguros de depósitos y morosidad para asegurar la sostenibilidad de los depósitos de los ahorristas. En un quinto momento, se ha desarrollado cómo los contextos de concentración bancaria pueden o no determinar las tasas de interés del sistema financiero en el que operan. Por último, se ha explicado cómo el entorno macroeconómico influye en el sistema financiero y viceversa, las crisis financieras afectan el valor de los bonos soberanos y las tasas de interés interna. / Banking concentration is the dominant position of some banks that manage the market and whose capacity of control extends to an important percentage of the deposits and placements of the financial market in which they operate. Its participation could generate distortions in the market by affecting interest rates and access to credit. Due to the importance of concentrations, this paper requires to determine whether bank concentration generates or facilitates access to credit and the development of the macroeconomic environment. First, it has explained the differentiation between public and private concentrations, a variety that responds to their objectives and nature: while the private ones tend to seek economic benefits, those controlled by the State tend to massify access to credit. In the second section, this research has developed how these power groups seek to create oligopolies through vertical and horizontal integrations in order to control the market. In the third section, the role played by regulatory agencies such as superintendencies and reserve banks in setting parameters to maintain the stability of the financial system through solvency ratio compliance standards and legal limits on loans was discussed in greater depth. In the fourth section, it has been explained how supervisory agencies control deposit and delinquency insurance to ensure the sustainability of savers' deposits. In the fifth section, the paper has developed how banking concentration contexts may or may not determine the interest rates of the financial system in which they operate. Finally, it has been explained how the macroeconomic environment influences the financial system and vice versa, financial crises affect the value of sovereign bonds and domestic interest rates. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

[pt] O presente trabalho busca estudar o impacto da preempção em jogos de momento ótimo em um oligopólio assimétrico, aplicando-o no mercado brasileiro de latas de alumínio. Uma primeira análise de um mercado monopolista ajuda a compreender a estrutura do modelo e os principais pontos que influenciam o valor da firma. Em seguida, entramos no caso de um oligopólio simétrico. Esta etapa introduz as interações estratégicas e suas consequências nos investimentos das empresas. Nesse momento, é introduzida a noção de preempção e seus efeitos sobre as decisões ótimas a serem tomadas. Entramos, então, no modelo de jogos de opções em um oligopólio assimétrico com preempção, adaptado para o caso com três empresas atuando no mercado, representando a indústria de latas de alumínio no Brasil. Primeiro uma solução analítica é encontrada, seguida por uma aplicação numérica. Um dos principais resultados é que as empresas precisam antecipar seus investimentos quando existe a ameaça de preempção no mercado, o que as impede de investir no momento em que maximizariam seus valores. / [en] This study aims to analyze the impact of preemption in investment-timing games under asymmetric oligopolies. The model developed in the dissertation is, then, applied to the Brazilian aluminum can industry. A first analysis of a monopolist market helps understand the foundations of the model and the key aspects that influence the firm s value. Then, we deal with a case involving competition with symmetric firms, taking into account the strategic interactions and its consequences to the investment-timing. At this point, it is introduced the notion of preemption and its effects on the optimal timing decisions. Finally, we study the oligopoly games under asymmetric cost and preemption for the case with three firms in the market, representing the Brazilian aluminum can industry. First an analytical solution is found, followed by a numerical application. One of the main results is that the presence of rivals lowers the threshold that triggers investment, so investment occurs sooner, preventing firms to invest in the time that would maximize their values.

[pt] Este trabalho analisa um mercado de eletricidade em que os geradores declaram funções de custo quadráticas para o operador da rede e também suas disponibilidades máximas de produção. O operador, então, determina as quantidades a serem produzidas por cada gerador de modo a atender a uma demanda inelástica, ao menor custo possível. Estabelecem-se alguns resultados que permitem computar os equilíbrios de Nash deste modelo e descrevem-se algumas de suas propriedades, tais como condições de existência. / [en] This work analyzes an electricity market in which generators declare quadratic cost functions for the grid operator and also the maximum capacity available. The operator then determines the quantities that each generator must produce to meet an inelastic demand at the lowest possible cost. Some results are established that allow computing the Nash equilibria of this model and some of their properties are described, such as existence conditions.