Title of Document: PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE Antoine Gervais, Ph.D., 2009. Directed By: Professor Nuno Limão Department of Economics This thesis is concerned with the role of product quality in explaining observed price and trade patterns. The first chapter introduces the topic, summarizes the main findings of the dissertation and contrasts them to other results in the lite...

We develop a two-stage model for versioning products with respect to both vertical and horizontal attributes. At first, a firm positions its top-quality “flagship” product in a market with an imperfectly known distribution of tastes and reservation prices. In the second stage, the firm learns these consumer characteristics and has the option of extending its product line by versioning the flags...

This paper studies competition between firms when consumers observe a private signal of their preferences over products. Within the class structures that induce pure-strategy pricing equilibria, we derive are optimal for and those consumers. The firm-optimal policy amplifies underlying product differentiation, thereby relaxing competition, while ensuring purchase preferred product, maximizing t...

While homogenous goods is a convenient assumption for many models, it is frequently violated in practice. Many markets feature goods that are not identical, they vary in quality, features, reliability, reputation and/or geographic location. Indeed, markets of literally identical goods seem to be relatively rare, especially once differences in seller’s locations and reputations are taken into ac...

The primary role of marketing within the competitive advantage is innovation. The customer value-based differentiation strategies will drive the company’s market research efforts, its selection of target markets, its product development processes, its market communications programs, and its delivery processes. These processes require many specific capabilities that enable the firm to carry out ...

Introduction By expanding markets and diversifying products from the desired local product, "One Village, One Product" strategy, taking advantage of the regionchr('39')s potential in the competitive market.  Utilizing the "One Village, One Product" brand, as a global product, demonstrates pride in local culture as well as an effective economic strategy, which is intended for the development of...