Case Studies in Research AAEA Pre-Conference Long Beach CA, 2002

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Case Studies in ResearchAAEA Pre-Conference
Long Beach CA, 2002

• Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes
• Economics Management of Agrobiotechnology
  Center (EMAC)
• University of Missouri-Columbia

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When Why?

• When data is scant difficult to come by
• Transaction costs factors that drive them
• Intra-firm decision making
• Inter-firm interactions
• Etc.
• When the past is not a good guide
• Radical innovation
• Changing structure
• Etc.
• When interested in detail complexity-zeroing in

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Economic Theory Case Studies

• What is the role of theoretical constructs and
  behavioral models in case study analysis?
• Test existing knowledge?
• Develop new knowledge?
• Frame the problem define boundaries of
  analyses?
• Can case studies facilitate hypotheses testing?
• Can case study research be generalized?
• Qualitative or quantitative?

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Example 1 Entry and Incumbency in AgInput
Distribution System
Ho A diffused distribution channel exerts local
monopoly power and minimizes e-commerce success
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Example 2 Comparative Licensing Strategies
Ho Licensing Strategy consistent with real
options theory
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Example 3 IP Standards Costs in Seed Production
Network of farms
Processing plant
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Receiving Pits
BULK STORAGE
Dehusking
Buffer Storage
Harvest delivery
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4
Sorting
Drying
Shelling
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Sizing/Cleaning
Warehouse
Buffer Storage
Treating
purity
Bagging
Ho
Cost per bag
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Some Final Questions

• How important are biases in case study research?
• What are the advantages disadvantages of case
  studies as research methodology tools?
• Is case study research a substitute or complement
  for secondary data and aggregate analyses?