ECO 325 CORPORATE STRATEGY

A study of firm decision-making by exploring the fundamentals of demand and identifying categories of costs that firms must consider like pricing, exit, or market entry. Students learn about market power, antitrust, and how the interplay between cost and demand fundamentals of various industries (e.g., healthcare, fintech/blockchain, social media, retail, fine arts, entertainment, and financial services to name a few) determines profit-maximizing decisions for firms. Lastly, students will explore strategic interactions between firms by way of games and "tactics." Specific, industrial organization frameworks such as holdouts, switch costs, multi-sided markets, network effects, and economies of scope will assist in deciphering firm behavior. Case studies will be used to sharpen and reinforce the principles of the course.