84556 - INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide students with a general and base knowledge of modern industrial organization based on strategic interaction among firms and consumers. Students will learn the functioning of the markets by analyzing the behavior of non-competitive firms, also with the tools of modern game theory. Industrial policies and regulation will be discussed together with the principles of competition policy.

Course contents

Part 1: Presentation of the course, background, perfect competition

Part 2: Monopoly and price discrimination.

Part 3: Strategic interaction, game theory, oligopolistic markets

Part 4: Non price-competition, entry barriers, collusion, advertising, R&D

Part 5: Antitrust and regulation

Readings/Bibliography

L. Pepall, D. Richards, G. Norman, Industrial Organization, 4th or 5th ed., Blackwell, 2008.

Except: 4.5 (means section 5 of chapter 4); 7.5.2; 7.6; Appendix to ch. 8; 10.3; 10.5; 11.1; 11.2; 12.2.2; 13.2; 13.3.1; 13.5; 14.3; 14.4; 15.3; 15.5; 15.6; 16.3; 16.4; 16.6; Appendices to ch. 16; 17.3; 17.6; 18.4; 18.5; 19.6; 21.2; 21.3; 21.6; 22.5; 22.6; 23.3; 23.7; ch. 24; 25.3; 25.4.

Teaching methods

Standard front teaching.

Assessment methods

Mid-semester written exam and final written exam. Exams includequestions and exercises.

Students can reject the grade obtained at the exam once. To this end, he/she must email a request to the instructor within the date set for registration. The instructor will confirm reception of the request by email within the same date.

Teaching tools

Textbook and exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Flavio Delbono