Adoptions and orphans in the early microcomputer market

Article Abstract:

The economics underlying the development of the CP/M operating system in the early 1980s differed from that of its successor, DOS. These differences, which can be attributed mainly to software development, explain the orphaning of CP/M by users and developers and the subsequent predominance of DOS and the IBM personal computer as the industry standards. The feedback from operating systems to software development was found to be much stronger and more sustained than vice versa for DOS while in the case of CP/M, the degree of two-way feedback between operating systems and applications software was similar. Furthermore, the availability of compatible software became the determining factor for the success of DOS and vice versa.

Prepackaged software, Software Publishers, Analog & Hybrid Computers, Systems Software Pkgs (Micro), Computer industry, Microcomputers, Operating systems (Software), Operating systems

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Technology choice and market structure: strategic aspects of flexible manufacturing

Article Abstract:

Flexible manufacturing has dramatic implications for competition between developed and emerging nations and for market structures. It is argued that the adoption of flexible manufacturing processes by companies will result in a considerably tougher price regime that will not necessarily lead to low prices. Flexible manufacturing-induced price regimes will most likely favor producers rather than consumers. Ultimately, a situation will be created where producers will not be fully flexible because flexibility in some sectors facilitates specialization in others.

Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Research, Technology application, Manufacturing processes, Manufacturing, Computer-integrated manufacturing

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Product variety and welfare under tough and soft pricing regimes

Article Abstract:

The economic justification for regulatory authorities to control firms' price policies is reviewed. A limitation of the existing analysis is that market structure is treated exogenously, which loses an important trade-off. Discriminatory pricing acts as a strong deterrent against entry. The address model of product differentiation is analyzed to demonstrate this trade-off and to show that product variety is defined by the degree of spatial contestability of the market.

Analysis, Pricing, Product differentiation

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