Management and Economics of Network Industries
Foundations of Communication Economics
Prof. Dr. Tobias Kretschmer, Christian Peukert
Course Overview
Industries with network effects are special because each consumer's utility is influenced by other consumers' adoption decisions. For example, having a telephone is more useful if lots of other people have one. As most - if not all - high-tech industries (e.g. telecommunications or consumer electronics) are characterized by strong network effects, a considerable amount of economic and strategic research has dealt with the special properties of network goods in the last 20 years. Starting with the basic principles of network industries, this course gives an introduction into important topics like static and dynamic market structure, product strategies and public policy.
At the end of the course, students should be familiar with the basic (game) theoretic models used to describe network industries and should be able to apply them to real life situations. Understanding the theoretical background of network industries and using this knowledge to solve management-oriented case studies will help prepare students for future roles in the management of high-tech companies, academia or public policy.
Course Structure
The lecture focuses on problem analysis using theoretical and empirical methods. During the tutorials, students will work on exercises and management-oriented case studies related to topics introduced in the lecture.
The tutorials for his lecture are sponsored by LMU Management Alumni.
Organization
General
- The course is taught in English
- Students can choose one of three identical tutorials
- The slides for the lectures can be downloaded here
- The exercise sheets for the turorials can be downloaded here
- A mock exam can be downloaded here
Examination
- 120 min. closed book exam
- 6 ECTS in module VII (PO 06) or MM&I (PO 08)
| Lecture: | Mondays, 12:00-2:00 pm, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, Room A 120 First lecture: 02.05.2011 Last lecture: 25.07.2011 (there will be no tutorials in that week!) |
| Tutorial 1: | Thursdays, 8:00-10:00 am, Ludwigstr. 28 (back building), Room 024 First tutorial: 05.05.2011 |
| Tutorial 2: | Thursdays, 12:00-2:00 pm, Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 9, Room 015 First tutorial: 05.05.2011 |
| Q&A Session: | Thursday, 21.07.2011, 8:00-10:00 am, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1 (main building), Room B 006 The Q&A session will replace the tutorials in that week! Please send your questions to Christian Peukert (  c.peukert@lmu.de) until Monday, 18.07.2011 |
| Exam: | The exams are graded! You can view your exam on Monday, September 12th, at 3:00 pm; if you want to do so, please register in advance by writing an e-mail to Christian Peukert ( c.peukert@lmu.de) |