The growing importance of trade internationally as well as for the United States (U.S.) spawned a body of literature concerning import demand, export supply, and trade balance. Most of the empirical work to date has employed estimates of commodity import demand functions derived from traditional linear and log-linear functional forms. These specifications of import demand impose separability restrictions on the consumer's choice between domestic and foreign goods, in addition to confining import demand elasticities to constant values. The policy recommendations made on the basis of the import demand elasticities derived from these traditional models may be misleading. In this study, a more flexible model of import demand is employed. The model allows a more flexible characterization of the underlying preference structure for both domestic and imported commodities. Import demand functions are then derived from the underlying model which possess the properties of the flexible characterization of consumer preference. Wheat import data by major source of supply to selected EEC countries and Japan are used to estimate the parameters of the derived wheat import demand relationships. The results of the estimation and tests suggest that the use of the traditional restricted model may be suspect even though such models are easily used in the analysis of trade policy. The traditional model was rejected by use of a likelihood ratio test of model specifications for all import demand functions for the selected importing countries analyzed. This suggests that the associated import demand and income elasticities are not constant but variable (derived from each data point) in contrast to previous assumptions regarding the behavior or import demand and associated elasticities. The compensated own-price elasticities of import demand for U.S. wheat in the Netherlands and Japan were found to be generally inelastic, close to unitary elastic in the United Kingdom (U.K.), and elastic in the Italian market during the time period studied. These estimated elasticities were then used to analyze the impacts of selected trade policies such as export subsidies and taxes, tariff reductions and threshold price systems, quotas and price stabilization.

This dissertation analyzed consumer primary motivations for attending farmers' markets, preferences for product features, and differentiated produce. We used consumer survey data collected at farmers' markets in Nevada and Utah during summers of 2008 and 2011, respectively. This dissertation consists of three essays. The first essay employed binary and multinomial logistic models to assess primary consumer motivations for attending farmers' markets. Results indicate that many consumers attend farmers' markets primarily to purchase fresh produce. Other motives such as social interaction, purchasing ready-to-eat food, and buying packaged foods, arts, and crafts were also analyzed. In this first essay, consumers who attended farmers' markets were clustered into three groups based on their similar characteristics. Results from this essay are useful to vendors at farmers' markets for they indicate primary motivations to attend. It also provides guidelines to farmers' markets managers in their efforts to meet attendees' expectations. The second essay used an ordered logistic model to analyze consumer preferences for eight fresh produce features. These features are product variety, quality, appearance, pricing, local, organic, freshness, and knowledge of local growers. Findings show that consumer preferences are strong for product quality, freshness, local and organic production. Policy makers can use results from this essay to provide necessary assistance to farmers to feature their products based on consumers' preferences. Health-related policy makers can use the results to implement programs aimed at increasing fresh produce consumption. The last essay used a multinomial logistic, conditional and ordinary least squares models to respectively investigate consumer preferences for differentiated fresh produce, willingness to pay, and stated demands for green peppers, cucumbers, and yellow squash. Comparison between preferences before and those after information about production and place of production was also done. Results demonstrate that consumer willingness to pay and the probability of purchasing each of the three products grown conventionally in Utah overweight those for either organically or conventionally grown of unknown origin. This essay provides information pertaining to produce differentiation through labels. The information has significant impact on preferences for conventionally grown local produce and negative effect on conventionally grown fresh produce of unknown origin. Green peppers, cucumbers, and yellow squash are ordinary goods with inelastic stated demands. Produce growers can use results from this essay to adopt production practices to meet consumer preferences. Results are useful to policy makers in enforcing local and organic certification regulations. They can also be used for pricing and marketing strategies.

La simulation des processus complexes dans des réseaux de transport d'électricité de grande taille nécessite la réduction de la dimension du problème. Comment réduire la complexité spatiale d'un réseau de grande dimension en gardant un bon niveau de précision ? Pour répondre à cette question nous avons divisé ce travail en trois grandes étapes : 1) la réduction par agrégation du nombre de nœuds; 2) la modélisation des liaisons entre ces clusters de nœuds et 3) le calcul des capacités des lignes équivalentes.L'agrégation des nœuds dans un cluster implique que celui-ci sera traité comme une plaque de cuivre par le modèle de marché. En conséquence, pour l'agrégation des nœuds, les congestions récurrentes dans le réseau sont identifiées et placées idéalement aux frontières des clusters. Après la réduction, la même répartition des flux dans le réseau complet et dans le modèle réduit du réseau doit être trouvée. Pour ce fait une méthodologie d'estimation d'une matrice PTDF a été développée. Pour les études économiques la limite thermique des lignes est un paramètre clé. Pour résoudre ce problème, nous proposons une méthodologie qui estime les capacités équivalentes à partir des points de fonctionnement historiques du système complet. Les approches présentées dans ce travail ont été appliquées sur un modèle du réseau continental européen et ont permis d'obtenir un modèle simplifié qui minimise la perte d'information. / The simulation of complex processes in large scale power systems needs the reduction of the problem. How to reduce the spatial complexity of a large scale power network while minimizing information loss? To answer this question we have divided this work in three main steps: 1) network buses aggregation; 2) modelling of the clusters' links; 3) defining the equivalent branches maximum exchange capacity.The bus aggregations in a cluster implies that it will be treated as a coppper-plate by the market model. Therefore, the most frequent network congestions must be identified ideally placed at the clusters frontiers. After the reduction, the same power flow repartition must be found in both reduced and complete model. To do that, a methodology to define a PTDF matrix was developed. For economic purpose studies, the branches maximum capacity is a key parameter, to define this value, a methodology is proposed that estimates the equivalent transmission capacities using historical system operating set points.These approaches were applied to the European transmission network and allowed to define a reduced model that minimises the information loss.

Platforms are the critical players driving the digital economy. My thesis focuses on the platform economy, especially the competitive advantage of platforms. On the one hand, what factors affect the competitive advantage of platforms? How does the platform form the competitive advantage? These questions are related to platform strategy. On the other hand, does the competitive advantage of platforms harm social welfare? This question is related to regulatory issues. The first chapter of my dissertation studies how different aspects of user effects drive value in two-sided markets. We first develop a model of inter-temporal network effects and within-period network effects of users to estimate different aspects of user effects. We then propose a model to estimate the user lifetime value in two-sided markets and examine the effectiveness of the user growth strategy. Finally, we discuss platform heterogeneity and corresponding platform strategies. Using Groupon data, we empirically estimate different aspects of user effects and examine how they vary. We show that the strength of the inter-temporal same-side network effect affects user stickiness, further influencing the persistence of the within-period cross-side network effect. Strong within-period cross-side network effects alone cannot sustain value creation. Our findings remind managers not to overemphasize user growth when the inter-temporal network effects are weak and should instead focus on platform design that increases user stickiness. The second chapter of my dissertation examines the impact of a potential policy of opening a platform's big data to banks on FinTech lending. We show that the policy promotes competition in FinTech lending and the loan price decreases. However, its impact on financial inclusion is unclear. We discuss how the efficiency of the banking system and the value of big data affect the policy outcome. We also consider the equilibrium of a data market where the platform can sell big data to banks. We show that FinTech can best promote financial inclusion in this case, but the loan price is the same as when the platform monopolizes big data. Since financial inclusion is important for entrepreneurship and innovation, the regulator should carefully examine the context in their countries before making a policy choice. The third chapter of my dissertation studies the impact of cross-market acquisitions of giant platforms on start-ups' entry into emerging markets. Our model shows that the acquisition reduces the post-acquisition entry but may increase the pre-acquisition entry. The net effect of the acquisition on the entry is positive when the pre-acquisition gain is greater than the post-acquisition loss. We then discuss three cases in which a giant platform strategically increases its market position in the acquisition. The net effect of the acquisition on start-ups' entry varies in different cases. Our findings indicate that regulators should analyze the specific situation of each acquisition before making a decision to approve an acquisition.

This paper explored the requirements and subsequent competencies needed for an emerging market SME to operate in the developed markets on design, development and manufacturing projects. This was analysed by first exploring the differences in the requirements of the two markets and then determining what competencies a typical SA company would have to acquire to be competitive in the DM. The case was explored through a study of an SA SME operating in the design and development market, who was in the process of internationalising into the US and European markets. Data was gathered through a desk analysis of specifications from each market as well as in-depth interviews with the firm’s key decision makers and customers from each market. The first outcome was that there was a difference in the requirements of the two markets, namely the level of detail and sophistication of the DM specifications, the greater need for a competitive product in the DMs, both in pricing and functionality, the requirement for socially ethical practices and that EMF products need to overcome the negative COO effects. The final outcome was that EM SME’s needed to improve on their current competency set, namely an adaptation of the development process, sourcing practices and improvement in technical competencies. The firm also developed a method of introducing their product to the DM, such that the COO effect was reduced. This was done through the use of SA OEM’s and DM MNE’s supplying SA. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

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This study analyzes the distribution system of fresh fruits and vegetables used by Brazilian population in Massachusetts, which is estimated to be over 250,000. Maxixe (Cucumis anguria) and abóbora híbrida (Cucurbita spp.), vegetable crops popular among Brazilians were used as test crops to better understand the distribution system and to assess the most efficient way for local farmers to enter into the marketplace with their fresh produce. In person interviews with Brazilian consumers, and test marketing were used in this research to evaluate sales potential and pricing levels for abóbora híbrida produced in Massachusetts. The squash was sold at four locations during two weeks at specific pricing levels and results showed good sales potential for this crop. Yields and production practices were evaluated at the UMass Research Farm to test productivity and adaptability of this squash in local climate conditions. Results of this pilot study also underscored the importance of local farmers understanding the role of cultural characteristics of the Brazilian community in the United States, especially with regard to language and media, in order to fully capitalize on this market.

Successful product design focuses on design principles that are relevant to a target market. Consequently, the better these principles are understood and used, the higher the likelihood that resulting products will be well-received in that market. This thesis presents a method for extracting market-specific design principles for any market. The method employs user/designer-described characteristics of products within a market to extract the design principles specific to that market. The method generalizes the product characteristics, seeks to discover design decisions that could have resulted in those characteristics, and then extracts the underlying design principles. To demonstrate the ability of the method to extract such principles, the method is applied to two disparate markets; (i) best-selling products in the US, and (ii) products created for the developing world. The two sets of resulting principles are compared and shown to be market-specific. The author conclude that the method indeed results in market-specific principles that can be used to guide design activities.