synopsis for EBB 6333 firms, institutions and competition

This course introduces industrial organization theory and the instruments used to analyze industrial structure, conduct of firms and their performance. The influence of different structures including socio-political and industrial characteristics on organization of firms will be examined in detail. The evolution of organizational systems at both firm level and overall systems level will be studied. A range of issues related to ownership, hiring, reward, process layout, production and market coordination, and horizontal and vertical integration and decentralization will be viewed. While many of the state-of-the-art examples come from manufacturing, a number of organizations will specifically look at service organizations, both private and public. The course will also address alternative governance mechanisms to stimulate competitiveness in firms without adversely affecting consumer welfare and the environment.