All programmes > Network Industries and the Digital Economy

Network Industries and the Digital Economy (B-KUL-D0S11A)

6 ECTSEnglish26 First termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Verboven Frank (coordinator) |  Nardotto Mattia |  Pellens Maikel
OC Handelsingenieur en Handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica FEB Campus Leuven

Aims

Upon completion of this course, the student is able to:

  • Review a variety of business strategies for digital markets and network industries
  • Identify the sources of the profitability of these strategies based on economic models
  • Analyze the optimality of strategies, the role of regulation and market design

Explanation

This course studies the nature of competition in digital markets and network industries. It covers the pricing and market segmentation strategies for information goods, the role of consumer inertia due to switching and search costs, strategies for network goods and standards competition, and platform competition in two-sided markets. The course uses game-theoretic models and empirical applications, with a particular emphasis on telecommunications and (de)regulation, internet, e-commerce, etc. The analysis will also be applied to cases.

Previous knowledge

At the beginning of this course students should have followed at least one intermediate (BA level) class in each of economics, mathematics, and statistics.

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

3 ects. Economics of Network Industries (B-KUL-D0S11a)

3 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture13 First term
Pellens Maikel
OC Handelsingenieur en Handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica FEB Campus Leuven

Content

The course consists of the following parts:

  • Pricing of network goods
  • Two-sided markets and platform competition
  • Telecom markets and regulation
  • Internet economics

Course material

The course will be based on chapters from textbooks (such as Belleflamme and Peitz, Industrial Organization; Knieps, Network Economics), edited books (such Goldfarb, Economics of the Digital Economy), review books (such as Shapiro and Varian, Information Rules) or research papers.

Language of instruction: more information

Advanced class that will draw extensively on existing research, which is predominantly in English

Format: more information

Weekly lectures combined with problem sets.

3 ects. Digital Markets (B-KUL-D0S12a)

3 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture13 First term
Nardotto Mattia
OC Handelsingenieur en Handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica FEB Campus Leuven

Content

The course consists of the following parts:

  • Pricing and versioning information
  • Switching costs, lock-in strategies and standards
  • Standard essential patents, digital technologies and protection of intellectual property
  • Auctions

Course material

The course will be based on chapters from textbooks (such as Belleflamme and Peitz, Industrial Organization; Knieps, Network Economics), edited books (such  as Goldfarb, Economics of the Digital Economy) ), review books (such as Shapiro and Varian, Information Rules) or research papers.

Language of instruction: more information

Advanced class that will draw extensively on existing research, which is predominantly in English

Format: more information

Weekly lectures combined with problem sets.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Network Industries and the Digital Economy (B-KUL-D2S11a)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written, Paper/Project, Skills test
Type of questions : Open questions, Closed questions
Learning material : Course material, Computer

Explanation


Properties of the evaluation

  • Written exam during the regular examination period
  • Problem sets and/or case study during the year, based on material covered during the lectures
  • The submission deadlines for the problem sets and/or case study will be determined by the lecturer and communicated at the first lesson and via Toledo

Determination of final grade

The grades are determined by the lecturer as communicated via Toledo and stated in the examination schedule. The result is calculated and communicated as a whole number on a scale of 20..

The final grade is a weighted score and consists of 75% for final exam and 25% for problem sets/case study
If the student does not participate in one (or more) of the partial evaluations, the grades for these partial evaluations will be a 0-grade within the calculation of the final grade.

Information about retaking exams

The grade for the problem set/case study of the partial evaluation is taken into account (25%) if the grade of the retake is highter than the grade of the problem set/case study of the student during the regular period. Otherwise, the grade is based only on the final retake exam.