Discussion Paper
No. 2012-16 | March 06, 2012
Roberto Cellini and Giuseppe Rizzo
Private and Public Incentive to Reduce Seasonality: A Theoretical Model
(Published in Tourism Externalities)

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model to investigate the incentive of private producers and policy makers to reduce seasonality in a given market, where consumers derive different utilities from the consumption of the good in different seasons. The (seasonal) product differentiation is modelled along the lines of the contributions of Gabszewicz and Thisse (Price Competition, Quality and Income Disparities, 1979) and Shaked and Sutton (Relaxing Price Competition through Product Differentiation, 1982). The authors take into consideration that investments are possible to reduce the degree of seasonality. They show that, for a wide set of parameter configuration, the policy maker finds it optimal to make more effort to reduce seasonality as compared to private producers. The theoretical conclusion is consistent with empirical and anecdotical evidence, especially in the field of tourism markets.Paper submitted to the special issue Tourism Externalities

JEL Classification:

D29, L83, L12

Links

Cite As

[Please cite the corresponding journal article] Roberto Cellini and Giuseppe Rizzo (2012). Private and Public Incentive to Reduce Seasonality: A Theoretical Model. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2012-16, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2012-16


Comments and Questions



Anonymous - Referee Report 1
April 23, 2012 - 08:35
see attached file

Anonymous - Referee Report 2
April 23, 2012 - 11:53
see attached file

Anonymous - Referee Report 3
April 30, 2012 - 09:01
see attached file

Anonymous - From the Authors
April 30, 2012 - 13:19 | Author's CV, Homepage
Thanks for the comments. We will revise the paper, taking all suggestions into considerations. R. Cellini, G. Rizzo.