Socml security checks dellwred to benefiaanes m the first week of July 1977 reflected the thwd automatic cost-of-hvmg nxrease m cash benefits under legulatlon enacted m 1972 and 1973 The 5 Q-percent merease, which became effectwe m June, apphed to benefits for all persons on the social security benefit rolls at the end of May, except those recelvlng benefits under the “special mnunum” PIA provw...

This paper compares the Portuguese and Bulgarian consumer price indices (CPI) and attempts to identify some areas in which the CPI compilation methodology could be improved in the two countries. This work is organised into six sections. The first section briefly describes the organisational structure on which the production of the CPI is based in the two countries. The second section focuses on...

It is well known that switching costs may facilitate monopoly pricing in a market with price competition between two suppliers of a homogenous good, provided the switching cost is above some critical level. With heterogeneous consumers and incomplete information about individual consumers’ types, monopoly pricing entails second-degree price discrimination with inefficient contracts for low dema...

Introduction My charge as part of this workshop was to serve as one of two formal discussants, focusing in particular on how well the proposed redesigns address the key methodological and cognitive concerns expressed in various forums with regard to the Consumer Expenditure Surveys. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to review many of the papers and presentations on the methodological concern...

Soctal Securtty checks dehvered to beneflclarles m the first week of July 1978 reflected the fourth automattc cost-of-ltvmg tncrease tn cash benefits under leglslatlon enacted tn 1972 and 1973 The 6 5-percent tncrease, which became effectwe to June, apphed to benefits for all persons on the social security benefit rolls at the end of Mdy, except those recetvmg benefits under the “spectal mmm~m ...

This paper explores whether and how a firm should adapt its strategy in view of consumer use of prior customer ratings. Specifically, we consider optimal pricing and whether the firm should offer an unexpected frill to early customers to enhance their product experiences. We show that if price history is unobserved by consumers, a forward-looking firm should always modify its strategy from sing...