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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Crawford, Gregory S |
| Abstract: | The market for multi-channel video programming has undergone considerable change in the last 15 years. Direct-Broadcast Satellite service, spurred by 1999 legislation that leveled the playing field with cable television systems, has grown from 3% to 33% of the U.S. MVPD (cable, satellite, and telco video) market. Telephone operators have entered in some parts of the US and online video distributors are a growing source of television viewing. This chapter considers the merits of cable television regulation in light of these developments. It surveys the dismal empirical record on the effects of price regulation in cable and the more encouraging but incomplete evidence on the benefits of satellite and telco competition. It concludes with a consideration of four open issues in cable markets: horizontal concentration and vertical integration in the programming market, bundling by both cable systems and programmers, online video distribution, and temporary programming blackouts from failed carriage negotiations for both broadcast and cable programming. While the distribution market is clearly now more competitive, concerns in each of these areas remain. |
| Keywords: | bundling; cable television; competition; foreclosure; internet; pay television; regulation; satellite television |
| JEL: | L41 L42 L43 L50 |
| Date: | 2013–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9316&r=ict |
| By: | Andrea Pozzi (EIEF) |
| Abstract: | Shopping on the Internet spares customers the discomfort of carrying around heavy and bulky baskets of goods, since the service usually includes home de- livery. This makes e-commerce a technology well suited to helping consumers to buy in bulk or to stockpile items on discount. I use grocery scanner data provided by a supermarket chain selling both online and through traditional stores to show that the introduction of e-commerce leads to an increase in bulk purchase and stockpiling behavior by customers. Since bulk and discounted items are sold at a lower price per unit, my findings highlight a new dimension in which online shopping can be beneficial to consumers. According to my calculations, the reduction in the cost of stockpiling triggered by the introduction of electronic commerce generates significant savings. |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eie:wpaper:1308&r=ict |
| By: | Cerquera, Daniel; Klein, Gordon J. |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the impact of the adoption of ICT on the economic performance at the firm level, considering explicitly the interaction of adopting firms within the intermediate input market in Germany. The paper identifies and quantifies the importance of adoption externalities and knowledge spillovers inherent in the introduction of ICT. The results show that the adoption of ICT at the firm level is positively affected by the use of ICT downstream and upstream (i.e. by a firm's clients and suppliers). Moreover, the use of ICT upstream(i.e. by a firm's suppliers) negatively affects the extend of IT outsourcing at the firm level, suggesting a substitution effect between inputs provided by suppliers with an intense use of ICT and a firm's demand for external IT services. The paper also finds that the use of ICT within the intermediate input markets positively affects the efficiency of internal processes by increasing the cost reductions generated by the introduction of process innovations. -- |
| Keywords: | Information and Communication Technologies,General Purpose Technologies,Intermediate Input Markets,Innovation,Firm Level Data |
| JEL: | D22 L25 O32 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:13013&r=ict |
| By: | Ewa Lechman (Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland) |
| Abstract: | In recent years, enormous changes are noted worldwide when broad adoption of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). These unique technologies – often perceived as economic development incentives – have a great ability to spread at high pace and low cost in world countries, bringing to people opportunities to contribute to economic development and growth. New Technologies play a special role in developing countries, where their in-country adoption lies in the centre of development strategies. ICTs are treated as tools which bring to people access to information, education and knowledge, offering unlimited possibilities for wealth-creation. The paper, purely empirical in nature, reports on the pace of adoption of new Information and Communication Technologies in developing countries, and – additionally – investigates country-specific ICTs diffusion patterns. We expect to uncover the S-shape curve in the diffusion process in most of developing countries, as well as in the whole country sample. For the analysis purposes we apply all counties, which – according to the World Bank nomenclature – are classified as low-income and lower-middle-income economies. Our sample covers 46 countries (upper-middle-income and high-income economies are excluded from the study purposely), which are classified as developing economies. The time framework is set for the period of 2000-2011. All data necessary for the analysis are derived from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database 2012 (16th edition). |
| Keywords: | Information and Communication Technologies, adoption patterns, technology diffusion, S-shape curve, developing countries |
| JEL: | O11 O33 O57 |
| Date: | 2013–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gdk:wpaper:5&r=ict |