Chris Doyle

Taxation of foreign multinationals: A sequential bargaining approach to tax holidays

Tax holidays for foreign multinational firms are tax concessions or straight subsidies granted for a limited period after entry. Such phenomena occur widely. We apply a sequential bargaining framework to a problem of ex post bilateral monopoly characterized by the presence of a host-country government and a foreign multinational firm. We show formally how a tax holiday can arise due to irreversible outlays and outside options.

Essentials of Modern Spectrum Management

Are you fully up-to-speed on todays modern spectrum management tools? As regulators move away from traditional spectrum management methods, introduce spectrum trading and consider opening up more spectrum to commons, do you understand the implications of these developments for your own networks? This is the first book to describe and evaluate modern spectrum management tools. Expert authors offer you unique insights into the technical, economic and management issues involved. Auctions, administrative pricing, trading, property rights and spectrum commons are all explained. A series of real-world case studies from around the world is used to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches adopted by different regulators, and valuable lessons are drawn from these. This concise and authoritative resource is a must-have for telecom regulators, network planners, designers and technical managers at mobile and fixed operators and broadcasters, and academics involved in the technology and economics of radio spectrum.

Different selling strategies in Bertrand oligopoly

Abstract I analyse a Bertrand oligopoly game where firms can choose between selling strategies: (i) price announcements; (ii) price announcements and offers to price match. I establish the set of Nash equilibria and show that only the monopoly price Nash equilibrium satisfies iterative dominance.

Programming in a competitive broadcasting market: entry, welfare and regulation

Abstract It is shown how regulation might be needed in a competitive broadcasting industry to ensure a desirable mix of programming. A model building on the tradition of the existing literature illustrates how different regulatory instruments can be deployed to provide, where necessary, TV firms with appropriate incentives to choose certain programme types. Direct instructions and the use of a tax on profits are two such instruments. The model also considers the effect of entry and there is a brief discussion on regulatory risks. The paper contributes towards the public policy issues connected with broadcasting markets where extensive liberalisation is imminent.

Self Regulation and Statutory Regulation

With reference to both theoretical and empirical examples, this article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various mixtures of statutory and self regulation. It seeks to define circumstances where statutory regulation works better than a self regulation, and vice-versa. The author concludes that ideally both forms of regulation work best when they co-exist and that, whatever the mix, the regulatory system must be able to respond to unforeseen events.

Where are we going? Technologies, markets and long-range public policy issues in European communications

We examine technological changes likely to be seen in electronic communications markets (wire-based and wireless) in Europe over the next ten years, and their potential effects on competition. We find these prospective changes to be broadly positive. Public policy and regulation can promote this positive outcome by the pursuit of a strategy of regulatory disengagement. Possible institutional reforms to achieve this goal are considered. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the design and implementation of the GSM auction in Nigeria - the world's first ascending clock spectrum auction

Abstract In late 1999 the Government of Nigeria decided to issue no more than four new digital mobile telephony licences. An attempt was made to award these licences using a comparative selection process, which failed due to allegations of corruption. In March 2000 it was decided that the licences would be assigned by auction, which was regarded by the government as less susceptible to corruptive influences. In January 2001 Nigeria awarded three GSM spectrum licences using an auction design that incorporated an ascending clock phase. This paper describes the design of the auction and its implementation, and seeks to draw lessons from the experience.

Liberalisation of Utilities and Evolving European Regulation

In this article, David Coen and Chris Doyle provide an overview of recent liberalisation and regulatory developments affecting key utility sectors (electricity, gas, postal service, and telecommunications) in the European Union. They examine what kind of competition is suitable in the utilities, and discuss obstacles that lie in the path of competition. They address in detail the institutional design of sector specific regulation. National and supra‐national regulatory structures are analysed and these are illustrated by examples drawn from several European countries. In institutional terms, they argue that it is important regulatory regimes have a high degree of flexibilityand speed to allow for the continued evolution of the EU utility sector.

Effective sectoral regulation: Telecommunications in the EU

Abstract The principles of effective sectoral regulation in the European Union (EU) are discussed. The EU telecoms industry, which will be extensively liberalized in January 1998, is used to illustrate the arguments. We discuss two themes: the principles of sectoral regulation and regulatory structure. We argue that the European Commission (EC) can choose from two alternative regulatory structures. It can maintain the status quo strengthened by directing member states to adopt competition rules in line with Articles 85 and 86 of the European Treaty. Although this approach has merits, we favour the alternative which is the establishment of a dual regulatory system with preemption rights. This has a greater chance of delivering co‐ordination and facilitating effective competition in a single market. Subsidiarity would not be compromised as many regulatory rules would be implemented by national regulatory authorities (NRAs). Dual regulation would require the establishment of an EU wide regulatory authority, ...

Your Call: eBay and Demand for the iPhone 4☆

Abstract The iPhone 4 was introduced into the UK market on 24th June 2010 to significant consumer interest. Demand revealed itself exceeding supply through conventional channels, since there was very extensive activity in terms of bidding on eBay auctions for the product. We monitored all UK eBay transactions on the iPhone 4 for six weeks from introduction, with total transactions amounting to around £1.5m. We analyse determinants of winning bids in terms of characteristics of the phone, the seller, and the buyer. Our most notable and novel finding relative to previous studies is a very significant premium over list price being paid in almost all cases, with positive uplift factors including whether the phone was unlocked and whether it could be sold overseas. Demand fell over time, as evidenced by lower achieved prices, but the fall in price was relatively modest. A significant premium of 32GB over 16GB versions is revealed.