Minimum Quality Standards and Consumers Information

Paolo Garella and Emmanuel Petrakis

Working Papers from Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna

Abstract: The literature so far has analyzed the effects of Minimum Quality Standards in oligopoly, using models of pure vertical differentiation, with only two firms, and perfect information. We analyze products that are differentiated horizontally and vertically, with imperfect consumers information, and more than two firms. We show that a MQS changes the consumers perception of produced qualities. This increases the firms returns from quality enhancing investments, notwithstanding contrary strategic effects. As a consequence, MQS policies may be desirable as both, firms and consumers, can gain. This contrasts with previous results in the literature and provides a justification for the use of MQS to improve social welfare.

Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Minimum quality standards and consumers’ information (2008)
Working Paper: Minimum quality standards and consumers’ information (2007)
Working Paper: Minimum Quality Standards and Consumers Information (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bol:bodewp:532

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