Industrial Organization

PAPER GUIDELINES

Some preliminary steps:

1. Locate some background information on your industry. This can include articles and/or books which outline the shape of the industry and discuss recent issues of concern to economists and/or policy makers.

2. Determine which of the topics discussed in class are relevant to your industry.

3. Locate some data which can shed light on IO issues of relevance to your industry.

4. Determine whether there any particularly compelling policy issues relevant to your industry.

5. Based on what you find out from steps 1-4, decide on an approach to the paper.

6. Write up an outline which includes a discussion of how you plan to approach the paper and the sources you plan to use.

MORE DETAIL:

1. The analysis must relate one or more of the topics covered in class, such as:

market structure

concentration

price strategies

anti-trust legislation

2. The analysis must include some data analysis.

3. Sources should include both internet and library sources, but web based sources should include research institutions and policy centers, etc. rather than 'fly by night' organizations. If you have any doubts, please check with me. Also, I encourage you to start by checking out some of the web links on my web page. Web pages of government and international economic institutions are likely to provide excellent information which may be of use.

4. Include a policy angle.

5. The length should be between 10 and 15 pages double spaced, with a font of 10 - 12.

6. I would like the class presentations to be in the form of 'skits.' Therefore you may also want to start thinking about a creative way of presenting your material.

7. When you turn in your written paper you will each be asked to turn in a sheet evaluating your own contribution to the group paper, as well as the contribution of other group members. I will provide you with the forms before the end of the semester.