{"title":"A Framework for Social Fairness – Insights From Two Algorithmic Decision – Making Controversies in the Netherlands","authors":"T. Timan, F. Grommé","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3756755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3756755","url":null,"abstract":"Questions of (un)fairness in AI have been a point of focus of recent debates around potential negative consequences of applying AI is society. Many of the concerns around fairness and AI, however, are not new – rather they stem from larger sociopolitical concerns around digitization in societies in general. In detail, they revolve around fairness, accessibility and exploitability of digital means: who has the means, the expertise and the actual data to make maximum use of digitization, and at the expense of whom or what? Algorithmic Decision-making (ADM) can be seen as one form of applied AI in which questions of fairness– as novel manifestations of digitization in – and of society. AI as a way to automate decisions has been interpreted both as a novel threat to fairness (due to automated enforcement of already existing unfairness in society), and as a novel opportunity to curb unfairness, due the ability of AI to make more objective thus fair decisions (if all else equal). Based on recent literature from a variety of social science domains and two recent case studies in the Netherlands around controversial ADM systems, we propose a framework that can help guide the design-and development of fair ADM systems and services.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122030752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deepening the EU's Single Market for Services","authors":"C. Ebeke, Jan-Martin Frie, Louise Rabier","doi":"10.5089/9781513520681.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513520681.001","url":null,"abstract":"The services sector is increasingly important for the euro area economy, but productivity growth in the sector has stalled over the past two decades. Remaining barriers to cross-border trade in services within the EU Single Market contribute to this weak performance. Our empirical analysis suggests that slow progress in tackling these barriers is associated with political economy factors such as weak government support in parliaments, low government efficiency and high markups. To remove the cross-border restrictions on services trade, we suggest combining incentives such as financial support, technical assistance and improved communication on barriers with more effective enforcement.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122896884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Iulia Siedschlag, Stefano Meneto, Manuel Tong Koeckling
{"title":"Determinants of Green Innovations: Firm-Level Evidence","authors":"Iulia Siedschlag, Stefano Meneto, Manuel Tong Koeckling","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3495884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3495884","url":null,"abstract":"This paper examines determinants of firms’ innovations with environmental benefits. Using micro-data from Ireland, we identify and quantify the impact of environmental regulations, innovation-inputs, firm-specific characteristics, spillovers from other green innovators, public funding and innovation co-operations on the propensity of firms to introduce innovations with environmental benefits. In addition, the analysis distinguishes innovations with environmental benefits within the enterprise and innovations with environmental benefits for the final consumer as well as different innovations by type of environmental impact within these two broad categories of green innovations. The results indicate that environmental regulations, in-house R&D and acquisition of capital assets are crucially important as drivers of green innovations.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"58 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114655704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Harmonising Intermediary Copyright Liability in the EU: A Summary","authors":"C. Angelopoulos","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3685863","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3685863","url":null,"abstract":"With the adoption and subsequent national implementation of the E-Commerce Directive’s safe harbour regime, the architecture set up in Europe for the liability of internet intermediaries for third party copyright infringement has become two-tiered: at a first stage, it is necessary to examine whether a given intermediary attracts, in its pursuit of a certain activity, liability according to the standards set out in national law. If so, the applicability of a safe harbour must be considered. As a result, although it provides a veneer of approximation by immunising intermediaries under certain conditions, the Directive does not harmonise the underlying substantive liability norms which determine whether the safe harbours will be necessary or redundant. This leaves ample room for national divergences. The resultant fragmentation strikes a discordant note in the otherwise highly harmonised area of copyright. To address this fragmentation, harmonising momentum has picked up at the European Union (EU) level. <br><br>In research conducted from 2011 to 2015 at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) of the University of Amsterdam, I explored the options for moving EU law forward towards a fully harmonised intermediary liability system in copyright. This chapter provides a brief summary of that research. It considers both the current European rules and the national regimes in place in three European jurisdictions (UK, France and Germany). Subsequently, the relationship between these rules and the national substantive tort principles that underlie them is examined. Based on the lessons learnt from those tort principles, the chapter works its way towards proposing a model harmonised framework to govern the area: a truly European, cogent, stable and effective structure for intermediary accessory copyright liability.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132643296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developments on Helix Theory: Exploring a Micro-Evolutionary Repositioning in Stra.Tech.Man Terms","authors":"Charis Vlados, Dimos Chatzinikolaou","doi":"10.32861/ijwpds.510.87.99","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32861/ijwpds.510.87.99","url":null,"abstract":"This study explores a potential reposition of the triple helix model of university-industry-government relations in terms of micro-level analysis. In this direction, we evaluate the development of helix theory over time, by reviewing the relevant literature divided into three successive phases: the phase of theoretical foundation, the phase of conceptual expansion, and the phase of recent developments and systematic attempts of implementation. In this conceptual study, we estimate that a refocused triple helix model in terms of local development, by placing at the center of analysis the “living organization’s” dynamics in Stra.Tech.Man terms (synthesis of Strategy-Technology-Management), can be a possible direction of analytical enrichment.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123940801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Douglas Silveira, I. Silva, Silvinha Vasconcelos, Fernando Salgueiro Perobelli
{"title":"The Brexit Game: Uncertainty and Location Decision","authors":"Douglas Silveira, I. Silva, Silvinha Vasconcelos, Fernando Salgueiro Perobelli","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3421196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3421196","url":null,"abstract":"This article aims to analyze the strategic decision about firms location choice faced with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. We combine Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT) and spatial Agent-based Simulation (ABS) approaches with input-output analysis. Firms are competing in two different sectors: (a) crop and animal production; (b) financial service activities. We separate the European Union in manifold regions and consider the following factors in the decision making: (i) market potential; (ii) productive integration; (iii) labor costs and (iv) displacement cost. Firms assign weights to each of these factors. Our results suggest that in traditional sectors firms tend to seek unsaturated markets. In sectors related to services, the greater the uncertainty, the greater the likelihood that firms will move.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":" 6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120826961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Doing Business Below the Line: Screening, Mafias and Public Funds","authors":"Gianmarco Daniele, Gemma Dipoppa","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3299552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3299552","url":null,"abstract":"In 2013, the Italian government reinforced a screening mechanism to detect mafia-connected firms and ensure that their applications for subsidies over 150,000 euros are unsuccessful. We exploit this discontinuity to test whether (and how many) firms self-select below the threshold to avoid the screening after the law was strengthened. We find a large increase in subsidies just below the threshold and after the approval of the law, suggesting that about 3.8% of firms applying for subsidies reduced rent seeking to avoid police screening. In line with this interpretation, sorting is larger in mafia-affected cities and firms sorting at the 150,000 euros threshold display typical features of criminal firms. These findings shed light on (i) the extent to which mafia-connected firms misappropriate public funds; (ii) their strategic behavior in avoiding anti-corruption policies; (iii) the effectiveness of the new law at screening mafia-related firms out of the application process; (iv) the leverages policymakers can use to identify crime displacement.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"65 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126267271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Privacy Challenges and Approaches to the Consent Dilemma","authors":"Malin Olivia Soeder","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3442612","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3442612","url":null,"abstract":"Privacy decisions and their underlying tradeoffs are genuine fields of study in economics. This master thesis builds on the well recorded findings that people give away more private information than they would like to reveal according to their pre-decisional statements. This so called ‘privacy paradox’ is one political justification for renewing outdated privacy laws towards a more privacy protecting approach. Since May 2018 the ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (GDPR) is legally enforceable in Europe and intends to give Europeans citizens’ the legislative frame to protect their data. By changing the decision design from opting out of sharing data, to opting in allowing the use of private information, the regulation aims at giving Europeans thought-out control over their data. However, only few reads the privacy regulations of service providers and are able to process the information towards well-balanced decisions. This results in inflationary consent-giving of users and works against the actual political intention of enabling an informed consent giving. This master thesis intends in unfolding this ‘consent dilemma’ and finding solutions towards better informed decision-making.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"110 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116048432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carlos Piñeiro-Sánchez, Pablo de Llano-Monelos, Manuel Rodríguez - López
{"title":"Efectos sinérgicos y complementariedades en los recursos TIC (Synergistic Effects and Complementarity in IT Resources)","authors":"Carlos Piñeiro-Sánchez, Pablo de Llano-Monelos, Manuel Rodríguez - López","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3494200","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3494200","url":null,"abstract":"<b>Spanish Abstract:</b> Aplicada en el contexto de las inversiones en TIC, la teoría de recursos y capacidades predice la existencia de paquetes formados por la combinación de activos y competencias complementarios, que despliegan efectos sinérgicos sobre el desempeño de la empresa. Este trabajo explora la posibilidad de identificar esos bloques compactos de recursos aplicando métodos multivariables a datos recopilados a través de encuestas, y los relaciona con los antecedentes empíricos y los modelos teóricos relevantes<br><br><b>English Abstract:</b> When applied to IT investments, the resource-based view predicts business performance will be driven by synergistic effects. This paper shows a method to identify resource bundles. We depict resource blocks by applying multivariable methods to qualitative data collected through surveys. Results are discussed in relation to empirical background and relevant theoretical models.","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":"55 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122998516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Superstar exclusivity in two-sided markets","authors":"Elias Carroni, Leonardo Madio, Shiva Shekhar","doi":"10.2139/ssrn.3243777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3243777","url":null,"abstract":"In most platform environments, the exclusive provision of premium content from leading creators (superstars) is used as a strategy to boost user participation and secure a competitive edge vis-à-vis rivals. In this article, we study the impact of superstar exclusive content provision on platform competition and complementors’ homing decisions. Two competing platforms facilitate interactions between consumers and suppliers, of which the latter are identified by the superstar and a fringe of complementors (e.g., independent developers, amateurs). When platform competition is intense, more consumers become affiliated with the platform favored by superstar exclusivity. This mechanism is self-reinforcing as it generates an entry cascade of complementors, and some complementors single home on the favored platform. We find that cross-group externalities are key in shaping market outcomes. First, exclusivity benefits complementors and might make consumers better off when cross-group externalities are large enough. Second, contrary to conventional wisdom, vertical integration (platform-superstar) may make exclusivity less likely than vertical separation under reasonable conditions. Finally, we discuss implications for the strategies of platform owners, managers of superstars and complementors, and antitrust enforcers. This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy. Funding: L. Madio gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Economic and Social Research Council [Grant ES/J500215/1], the UCLouvain “Move-in” Fellowship Programme, the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [Grant 670494], and the Unicredit & Universities Foscolo Europe Fellowship. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4720 .","PeriodicalId":294049,"journal":{"name":"ERN: Other European Economics: Microeconomics & Industrial Organization (Topic)","volume":" 11","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"113952375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}