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on Marketing |
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Issue of 2009‒08‒02
three papers chosen by Joao Carlos Correia Leitao Technical University of Lisbon |
| By: | Kritikos, Alexander S. (DIW Berlin); Kneiding, Christoph (World Bank); Germelmann, Claas Christian (Saarland University) |
| Abstract: | In developing and transition economies, microlending has become an effective instrument for providing micro businesses with the necessary financial resources to launch operations. In the industrialized countries, with their highly developed banking systems, however, there has been ongoing debate on the question of whether an uncovered demand for microlending services exists. The present pilot study explores customer preferences for microlending products in Germany. Among the interviewed business owners, 15% reported revolving funding needs and an interest in microloans. We find that potential recipients of microloan products are retail business owners, foreign business owners, and persons who had previously received private loans. Furthermore, financial products should feature rapid access to short-term loans. |
| Keywords: | entrepreneurship, microlending, market research |
| JEL: | G21 D12 M31 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4292&r=mkt |
| By: | Yasuhiro Otsuka |
| Abstract: | Although, the number of OECD countries that publish data on the number of mobile broadband subscribers is not large, growth is significant in markets where data are available. This paper provides an overview of prices, speeds and data caps of mobile broadband services. 99 and 58 operators in OECD countries are providing USB modem based and handset based services respectively with WCDMA/ CDMA-2000 technologies, while 4 are providing mobile broadband access with WiMAX technologies. The data show that there is a wide range of subscriptions available but with considerable variation between and within countries. Differences are most pronounced in countries where mobile broadband is in its infancy. The number of new mobile terminals and USB modems on the market is stimulating much wider use of mobile broadband by consumers. Prices, as well as caps, need to be adjusted for the consumer market which is more price-sensitive. |
| Date: | 2009–06–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:stiaab:161-en&r=mkt |
| By: | Maurus Rischatsch (Socioeconomic Institute, University of Zurich); Maria Trottmann |
| Abstract: | Many politicians blame physician dispensing (PD) to increase health care expenditure and to undermine independence of drug prescription and income leading to a suboptimal medication. Therefore, PD is not allowed in most OECD countries. In Switzerland, PD is allowed in some regions depending on the density of pharmacies. This enables to investigate the difference in prescribing behavior between physician which gain income from prescribing a specific drug and their colleagues which prescribe the drug but do not sell it. Because the considered drugs are bioequivalent we focus on the economic consequence of PD. We analyze the prescribing behavior of Swiss physicians using cross-sectional data between 2005 and 2007 for three important agents. The results support our hypothesis that dispensing physicians have a higher probability of prescribing the drug with the (most likely) higher margin compared to non-dispensing physicians. Further, generic drugs are prescribed more often to patients with higher cost-sharing while patients' cost-sharing is less influential with PD. High-income patients face a much higher probability to receive the brand-name drug due to their lower marginal utility of income. Today's administered reimbursement prices for generics seem to be high enough to gain physicians for prescribing generics because of their high margins. |
| Keywords: | Physician dispensing, prescribing behavior, generics, brand-name drugs |
| JEL: | I10 I18 I19 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:soz:wpaper:0911&r=mkt |