Pricing Analytics and Revenue Management

BUS429 Pricing Analytics and Revenue Management

Spring 2024

  • Topics

    The course will try to answer the question: "At what price should firms sell their output to maximize their profits?"

    To answer this question students will use micro-level data to:

    • Estimate consumer demand
    • Estimate production, cost, and profit functions
    • Estimate the nature of competition among firms

    A specific focus will be given to the role of price differentiation (segmentation) and on the pricing theory when supply is constrained.

  • Learning outcome

    This course provides students with the tools to understand the tactical function of pricing and revenue optimization. Specifically, in this course the students will learn how to use management science analytical techniques to set prices.

    After completing this course, students can:

    Knowledge

    • Understand demand systems in product and in characteristics space.
    • Understand the role of marginal costs in homogeneous vs differentiated product spaces.
    • Understand the economics foundation of pricing theory.

    Skills

    • Identify potential applications of pricing and revenue management in new industries.
    • Use analytical tools to model real-world pricing decision-making processes.
    • Implement pricing solutions.

    General competences

    • Write reports to communicate their findings clearly and concisely, and in a rigorous form to provide business insights to diverse audiences.

  • Teaching

    Lectures, computer workshops, team project.

  • Recommended prerequisites

    Elementary Statistics, Probability, and Optimization.

  • Required prerequisites

    Elementary statistics, probability, and microeconomics.

  • Credit reduction due to overlap

    None.

  • Compulsory Activity

    None.

  • Assessment

    Final written project (100%) - in groups of two students (or one student) - where the student(s) will solve specific questions related to the course content.

  • Grading Scale

    A - F.

  • Computer tools

    MS Excel and R.

  • Literature

    Arne Henningsen (2020) Introduction to Econometric Production Analysis with R

    Victor Aguirregabiria (2021) Empirical Industrial Organization: Models, Methods, and Applications

    Jean Tirole (1988) The theory of industrial organization

Overview

ECTS Credits
7.5
Teaching language
English
Semester

Spring. Will be offered Spring 2024.

Course responsible

Assistant Professor Giacomo Benini, Department of Business and Management Science.