Cristina Grazia

Introduction to the Non-Cooperative Approach to Coalition Formation: The Case of the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD Standards' War

The concepts of the theory of endogenous coalition formation have not been utilized much to analyze issues in the field of applied economics. In this paper, we show how these concepts make a relevant and innovative contribution to these issues. We first illustrate the fundamentals of this theory and we present the concept of internal and external cartel stability. We provide an illustration of this concept through a basic example of an oligopoly in a cartelization situation. Then, we show the relevance of these concepts by analyzing the battle between the high-definition DVD-player standards: Sonys Blu-Ray and NEC/Toshibas HD-DVD.

Sanitary and phytosanitary standards: Does consumers’ health protection justify developing countries’ producers’ exclusion?

The objective of this paper is to analyze the effects public regulatory tools for food safety, notably maximum admitted contamination thresholds and official controls performed at importing country’s borders on both developing countries’ market access and consumers’ health. An Industrial Economics approach is developed that endogenizes the sanitary risk associated with imports by explicitly taking into account the interaction between the public regulatory tools and the strategic response of producers/exporters. Producers’ strategic reaction is shown to crucially depend on the characteristics of the economic environment. Moreover, a regulatory reinforcement may exacerbate producers/exporters exclusion without improving consumers’ health protection.

Quantity and quality regulation in the wine sector: the Chianti Classico appellation of origin

Purpose – This paper aims to illustrate the mechanisms for the economic regulation of quantity and quality in the Chianti Classico appellation of origin, focusing on the role of the sectorial organization in regulating the intermediary market, reinforcing the products identity and the reliability of the quality signal.Design/methodology/approach – Starting from some background elements (literature review and legislation framework) and given the supply chain organization and the main market mechanisms, the quantity and quality regulatory tools are illustrated and it is suggested how to improve the role of the sectorial organization in achieving the effectiveness of the system.Findings – Reinforcing the quantity constraint established by the production code, controlling and certifying the compliance process to the minimum quality standard from upstream grape production to downstream commercialization, reinforcing the link with the terroir and improving the promotional activity are some of the main strategi...

On the Emergence of Private Standards: An Industrial Organization Approach

This contribution aims at providing a focused discussion on the main economic issues associated with the emergence of private standards in agrifood chains. Public and private modes for food safety management are explored. Based on a critical review of the recent developments of Industrial Organization (IO) approaches, this contribution examines the rationale behind the emergence of private strategies for food safety governance, their effects on the food supply chain organization, and the strategic interactions between public regulator and private actors in the provision of food safety in agrifood markets. The analysis then draws the attention on the interactions between public regulatory instances (notably between the legislation and the official control system) and on their influence on the incentive for firms to develop voluntary standards. By focusing on buyer-supplier relations in international food supply chains, and based on recent theoretical developments in the IO literature, a simple formalization is finally proposed to investigate the role of public “output standards” and control imperfections in shaping buyer incentive to impose “process standards” over suppliers for import safety management purposes.

Forme organizzative e scelte strategiche per la valorizzazione dei vini a Denominazione di Origine

The objective of this paper is to analyze the supply chain organization of Appellation of Origin wines, identify the typologies of economic agents and characterize their strategic behaviour, in order to identify the link between product range choices, procurement strategies and typologies of vertical relationship along the production, processing and bottling stages. The aim is to identify the possible strategic options for the valorization of Appellations of Origin on the final market. We first provide a descriptive analysis of the wine bottling stage, by distinguishing bottlers according to the types of vertical relationship with upstream production and processing stages. Afterwards, we describe bottlers’ structural characteristics and strategic decisions concerning product range and procurement strategies. Then, a cluster analysis is conducted, in order to identify typologies of bottlers, according to structural and organizational characteristics and strategic decision. On the basis of the clusters identified, a description of the possible strategic options for the valorization of Appellations of Origin is then provided.

La performance della filiera ortofrutticola di esportazione dei Paesi Terzi del Mediterraneo nel mercato europeo: tra concorrenza e cooperazione

The objective of this paper is to provide a focused analysis of the competitiveness of fruit and vegetable exports from two south Mediterranean countries (Egypt and Morocco).We first provide a brief overview of the export flows to the international market, which aims to analyze the dynamics of destination markets and the range of exported products. Then, competitiveness on the European (and Italian) market is analyzed. After an introductory analysis of the dynamics of the Egyptian and Moroccane market shares regarding eu (and Italian) F&V imports over the period 2000-2010 per product category, a Constant Market Share Analysis (cmsa) is developed. This method enables us to further analyze trade performance by splitting up the various imports from Egypt and Morocco into different components (market size, commodity composition, and competitiveness effect). Finally, we provide a discussion on the question of what extent imports from Egypt and Morocco and Italian production might substitute or complement each other and on a discussion on potential price and non-price competitiveness factors. This discussion is further developed with an analysis of third countries’ abilities to comply with the Italian market’s food safety requirements. The paper finishes with a discussion on the prospects for North-South cooperation.

International trade regulation and food safety: the case of Italian imports of fruit and vegetables from Southern Mediterranean Countries

The paper focuses on the implications entailed by the current EU food safety regulation on Italian firms importing fresh fruit and vegetables from Southern Mediterranean Countries. Its specific objectives are to identify the main benefits and difficulties of compliance with food safety regulation perceived by domestic operators and to provide recommendations on suitable policy intervention tools. The study was developed in three steps. Firstly, we provided an overall assessment of the compliance capacity of fruit and vegetables imported from Southern Mediterranean Countries, by means of secondary data gathered from the European Food Security Agency and the Italian Ministry of Health. Secondly, we formulated a set of research hypotheses on the main factors affecting compliance capacity according to the relevant scientific literature. Thirdly, based on these hypotheses, we carried out a direct survey on key players involved in fruit and vegetable imports in Italy, using a Delphi approach.

Food safety management by private actors: rationale and impact on supply chain stakeholders

This paper first presents a state of the art of international and European public policies on food safety in agrifood supply chains. It also reviews initiatives set by private actors in this field. The analysis focuses on the economic effects resulting from the combination of these two approaches compared to their potential effects in terms of the reduction of sanitary risks faced by consumers. Starting from a critical review of the literature and from an analysis based on the new industrial economics tools, the authors show how, under certain conditions, the objective of safety in agrifood supply chains may be only partially achieved because of economic distortions arising from the combined effect of public policies and private standards.