Upstream, Downstream: Diffusion and Impacts of the Universal Product Code

Emek Basker and Timothy Simcoe

No 24040, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We study the adoption, diffusion, and impacts of the Universal Product Code (UPC) between 1975 and 1992, during the initial years of the barcode system. We find evidence of network effects in the diffusion process. Matched-sample difference-in-difference estimates show that firm size and trademark registrations increase following UPC adoption by manufacturers. Industry-level import penetration also increases with domestic UPC adoption. Our findings suggest that barcodes, scanning, and related technologies helped stimulate variety-enhancing product innovation and encourage the growth of international retail supply chains.

JEL-codes: L11 L15 L81 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ind, nep-pay and nep-tid
Note: PR
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published as Emek Basker & Timothy Simcoe, 2021. "Upstream, Downstream: Diffusion and Impacts of the Universal Product Code," Journal of Political Economy, vol 129(4), pages 1252-1286.

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.nber.org/papers/w24040.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Upstream, Downstream: Diffusion and Impacts of the Universal Product Code (2017)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24040

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
http://www.nber.org/papers/w24040

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ().