Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/47581 
Year of Publication: 
1999
Series/Report no.: 
Tübinger Diskussionsbeiträge No. 152
Publisher: 
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Tübingen
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes decisions on (in)compatibility and product design of two competing hardware suppliers in the presence of network effects. We show that they either establish compatibility and differentiate their variants strongly or maintain incompatibility and locate their variants at the center of the consumer distribution. In the latter case, a 'standards war' takes place. Moreover, we show that a commitment to compatibility becomes more attractive for suppliers when it can be done before product designs are fixed because then, it can significantly soften competition in locations. Considering welfare, it turns out that standards wars can be welfare superior to compatibility.
JEL: 
L12
L13
L15
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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