University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Firm Strategy and Research and Development: A Game Theoretic Approach

Duffus, Lu Ann Mcclernan

This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/70780

Description

Title
Firm Strategy and Research and Development: A Game Theoretic Approach
Author(s)
Duffus, Lu Ann Mcclernan
Issue Date
1986
Department of Study
Economics
Discipline
Economics
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Economics, Theory
Abstract
  • The research and development decision pivots on many important variables--some beyond the control of the decision maker. One of these variables is the presence or absence of patent protection. The possibility of imitation adds additional uncertainty into the decision. The riskiness of the project may have an impact on the way that this uncertainty is resolved.
  • The purpose of this dissertation is to consider a firm's research and development decision when patent protection, if it exists at all, is weak or ineffective. If one firm successfully innovates, a rival firm may imitate, although the imitation will be costly and the probability of imitation (within a finite planning horizon) is less than one. Of interest is the impact of imitation on the rate of expenditure on research and development and the risk implications for a risk neutral firm. A two firm differential game is used as the vehicle for firm interaction. Both dynamic programming and calculus of variations are used to investigate the firm's optimal research and development decision.
Graduation Semester
1986
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/70780

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Economics