Taxation and Product Differentiation

Thesis (Ph.D.), School of Economic Sciences, Washington State UniversityThis dissertation consists of three independent papers. The first paper analyzes how government policies, that is, a tax or quota, affects consumer's behavior when choosing between sugary soda and sugar-free soda. In particular, this paper examines whether such policy can be welfare improving. The second paper analyzes consumer's preference for beer brands. The objective is to estimate the own-and cross-price elasticities and income elasticities of beer brands. Finally, the third paper analyzes consumer's choice of transportation if gasoline tax is increased. The purpose of this paper is to elicit the factors that influence consumer's decision to purchase a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or switch to alternative modes of transportation, such as public transport.School of Economic Sciences, Washington State Universit