2024-2025 / ECON2262-1

Industrial organization in the digital economy

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in management, professional focus in global supply chain management5 crédits 
 Master in Management, professional focus in management of transitional organizational systems (Management of transitional organizational systems)5 crédits 
 Master in economics : general (60 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in human resource management, professional focus in management of organisational systems in transition5 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculty of social sciences)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Axel Gautier

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Industrial organization studies three main questions: How do firms compete?,  What are the consequences on consumers and welfare? And is there a room for public intervention?

The course of "industrial organization in the digital economy (IODE)" intend to study those questions integrating the features of the digital economy (platforms, network goods, data, etc.).  The objective is a better understanding of both the firms' strategies and the market functioning.

This IODE course blends economic theory with real-world applications.   Most of the application  will focus on the digital economy

Course content : 

Part 1 : Oligopoly competition



  • Models of oligopoly competition: theory and applications
  • The rise of market power
  • Algorithmic collusion
Part 2: Pricing in the digital economy



  • Price discrimination
  • Personalized pricing and products
  • Second degree price discrimination (menu pricing)
  • The value of data
Part 3: Platforms



  • Zero-pricing platforms
  • Uber and the sharing economy
  • Platform and exclusive content
Part 4: Competition policy



  • Platform duality
  • Mergers in the digital economy
Part 5: Topics in digital IO



  • Information and reputation online
  • Vertical relations
  • Innovation and competition

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Intended Learning Outcomes addressed by the courses :


  • Strengthening knowledge and understanding of basic management disciplines in order to use them to perform a rigorous analysis of a management situation and provide pertinent solutions
  • Ability to speak 2 foreign languages: C1 in English and B2 in one other language
  • Understanding and being capable of using modelization methods when seeking a solution for a concrete management problem
  • Providing concrete solutions to a management problem, integrating a dimension of technology, innovation or production
  • Developing a critical sense (arguing)
  • Developing a transversal, global vision
  • Professional capacity for written communication

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Micro-economy & Notions of calculus

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Each session (3 hours) will be divided in three parts:

  • Discussion based on press article (30 minutes)
  • Teaching (2 hours)
  • Exercises (30 minutes)

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face to face

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Main Reference
Belleflamme and Peitz, Industrial Organization: Markets and Strategies, Cambridge University Press, second edition,  2015
Other references will be provided during the lectures

Final exam
Relative weighting of the individual evaluation: 100%

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is given in English.
Students are wanted to participate in all the sessions
 

Contacts

Lecturer

 Axel GAUTIER
Email: agautier@ulg.ac.be
Office I.49, BAT B31(ST)
Tel: 04/366.30.53

Teaching assistant: Hugues Barvaux

Association of one or more MOOCs