Term Project Guidelines

Lyuben Ivanov, PhD

$2023-11-08$

General Information About the Term Paper Assignment

THE TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT is a group research task that requires students to identify and investigate a publicly$-$traded company which seems to enjoy a significant and sustainable market power in its respective market $($indicated by a high and sustainable return on equity, preferably combined with low leverage$).$ Students will be randomly assigned to groups by the lecturer. Each group is expected to submit the results of their work as a $10$ page essay $($maximum$)$ by the end of the fall term $($Jan $19,2024)$ via Moodle.

The best starting point for finding a suitable publicly traded company is the free stock screener at the Macrotrends website. Students are advised to look for a company that has had a high $($above $15\%)$ and consistent $($for at least $10$ years$)$ return on equity $($ROE$)$ over time.

The paper should start with introduction of the company followed by a main part and a synthesis$/$conclusion$.$ The main part should be divided into two sections:

reasons for the existence of market power for this particular company $($superior business model? structure of the industry? ownership of unique resources$/$capabilities$?$ etc.$)$

arguments why the market power is sustainable and can be expected to last for many years in the future.

Recommended Literature

Thomas $(2016)$ Managerial Economics

Porter $(1998)$ Competitive Strategy

Porter $(1998)$ Competitive Advantage

Nalebuff $(1997)$ Co$-$Opetition