User Loyalty and Willingness to Pay for a Music Streaming Subscription
By Nell Jones
Music streaming has increased industry revenue and displaced piracy, but limited profits for artists. In this thesis, I examine user loyalty to streaming platforms, focusing on the asset specificity of features and estimating what users are willing to pay for each of these features. A structural equation model of survey data shows that feature satisfaction positively affects both asset specificity of and overall satisfaction with streaming platforms, strengthening user loyalty. Using conjoint analysis, I estimate that users are willing to pay at least $14.40 for platforms that offer algorithm, playlist and social features, and the ability to download music.
Advisors: Professor Michael Munger, Professor Grace Kim | JEL Codes: Z1, Z11, M21
The Comprehensive Optimal Business Location Model
By Mitchel Gorecki
In order to ensure long run viability, a firm must understand the idea of optimal business location. In the designing of a strategy, it is important to not only evaluate the present market environment but to also account for possible future change. This paper will demonstrate the core ideas behind a comprehensive location model that will predict the optimal location for a business. The effectiveness of the model will be evaluated by using past data from Durham, North Carolina to predict current retail development. The model is determined to be successful by seeing if the trend recognized would be able to correctly identify the present location choices of firms. The model will be further used to predict the future development plans for businesses locating in the Durham area.
Advisor: Charles Becker | JEL Codes: E3, M1, M2,
