Applied Industrial Economics

This reader provides a unique mix of American and European contributions to the study of particular markets, often combined with a critical evaluation of antitrust regulations, decisions or judgments. Part I explains market structure as a function of sunk costs and market size. Part II illustrates the central role of pricing schemes (including parallel pricing, delivered pricing and competition clauses) in sustaining equilibrium outcomes in oligopolistic markets. Parts III and IV give a game-theoretic foundation to competition policy and merger control. Louis Phlips offers a comprehensive introduction to the text in which he very carefully explains the reasoning behind his choice of papers, and provides a superb synthesis of the material. Particular highlights include the discussion and evaluation of antitrust regulations, which involve a systematic comparative analysis of European and American regulations, decisions and judgments in this area.

Applied Industrial Organization offers a perspective on the richness of empirical industrial organization studies. Some papers derive empirical implications from theoretical models, but other papers start from empirical evidence and construct a theory. Three major topics are explored: the role of innovation, the evolution of market structure and firms, and the determinations of performance. As the central force of market economies, innovation is the essence of competition and results in changes to market structures. Other forces driving the evolution of markets and firms are also analyzed. Finally, the determinants of profitability are investigated. In particular, characteristics such as price flexibility, successful lenders and monopoly regulation are examined. Contributors include F.M. Scherer, Paul Geroski, John Hey, David Audretsch, Manfred Neumann, among others.

The application of economics to major contemporary real world problems -- housing, medical care, discrimination, the economic development of nations -- is the theme of this new book that tackles these and other issues head on in plain language, as distinguished from the usual jargon of economists. It examines economic policies not simply in terms of their immediate effects but also in terms of their later repercussions, which are often very different and longer lasting. The interplay of politics with economics is another theme of Applied Economics, whose examples are drawn from experiences around the world, showing how similar incentives and constraints tend to produce similar outcomes among very disparate peoples and cultures.

Applied Industrial Catalysis, Volume 1 provides a practical description of catalysis by industrial scientists. This book provides information pertinent to industrial catalysis, which is influenced by science, business, economic, markets, and politics. Organized into 10 chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the significance of industrial catalysis and its effect on human lifestyle and environment. This text then describes how to take a laboratory catalyst to successful commercialization with minimum problems. Other chapters consider in detail two major refinery processes, namely, hydrotreating and reforming. The reader is introduced to the specific processes for polyethylene and polypropylene manufacture. This book reviews as well ethylene oxide synthesis and explains oxychlorination of ethylene to ethylene dichloride. The final chapter reviews methanol carbonylation to acetic acid, which is produced by continuously reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in a homogeneous catalytic reactor at