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2010/2011  BA-HA_201  Industrial Organisational Analysis

English Title
Industrial Organisational Analysis

Course Information

Language English
Point 7,5 ECTS (225 SAT)
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Quarter
Course Period
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study Board
Study Board for BSc in International Business
Course Coordinator
Anette Boom
Main Category of the Course
  • Organization
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
After having attended the course the students
should be able to explain the theoretical models of industrial organization covered in the course,
should be able to describe the basic empirical approaches in order to test certain models of industrial organization,
and should be able to apply the taught theoretical models of industrial organization to real world industries and firms in order to analyze markets and/or firm strategies.
The latter implies
pursuing mathematical calculations,
using diagrammatic representations,
as well as producing consistent verbal arguments.
Examination
Industrial Organisational Analysis
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
Industrial Organisational Analysis:
Assessment Oral with Written Assignment
Marking Scale 7-step scale
Censorship External examiners
Exam Period Spring Term and Spring Term
Aids Please, see the detailed regulations below
Oral individual examination, mainly based on a project report of 25-30 pages written by 4-6 students. In the oral exam the student has to answer questions which should clarify whether and to what extent he/she understands the arguments in the delivered project report and whether these arguments make sense. Then each student has to answer a general question related to the textbook and/or the class room teaching. Individual grades are based on the project report and the student’s performance in its oral defence and on his/her answer to the general question. Re-examination is a 72 hour individual home assignment of 10 pages, graded by internal examiner on the 7-point scale.
Exam Period May/June
Examination
Prerequisites for Attending the Exam
Course Content

The students should get an introduction to industrial organization. They should understand the basic microeconomic models of industrial organization, such as monopoly theory and oligopoly theory and their underlying intuitions. They should get acquainted with some basic concepts of game theory and with theories that explain collusive behaviour, product differentiation, market entry and exit, vertical relations and price discrimination. They should also learn to know empirical regularities around these issues and empirical approaches which try to identify market structure and the level of market power in industries.

The theories and empirical approaches will be used in class and should be used by the students in their projects in order to analyse the market structure, the type of competition, the level of market power and the strategies that firms use to maintain their market power in real world industries from potentially all parts of the world. In addition the main features of the anti-trust policies in Europe and in the US will be discussed. If possible we will have two guest speakers presenting their empirical research with respect to market power and/or their experience from the inside of an anti-trust authority.
The taught theory will be practically applied when discussing small cases in class and by the students in their supervised projects on certain industries or firms. The course is related to a business and/or an institutional setting because the small cases are related to specific firms and the students will be introduced into the workings of the anti-trust authorities in the US, the EU and Denmark. A guest speaker with some work experience in anti-trust authorities will be invited. The course is also related to international business and/or economics since the small cases focus on global strategies of multi-national firms, on global markets and on national markets in different countries. The teaching will be research based either by including a session on the teacher’s own current research or by inviting a guest speaker who presents his or her research.

Teaching Methods
Classroom teaching consists of a mixture of lectures and the discussion of exercises and small cases. The lectures focus mainly on the theory of industrial organization whereas the exercises and small cases are mainly concerned with the application of this theory to virtual or actual firms and industries. The focus of the students’ projects should be the application of the theory to actually existing firms and/or industries.
Literature

Cabral, Luis M. B. (2002), Introduction to Industrial Organization, MIT Press: Cambridge, Mass., and London.

Please note, minor changes may occur. The teacher will upload the final reading list to sitescape/learn two weeks before the course starts.