Principals, agents, and the learning curve: the case of steam-electric power plant design and construction

Article Abstract:

Some factors were found to have lessened opportunities and incentives to enhance power plant design and construction. These factors, including design variation and the combination of uncertain costs and cost-plus contracting, were incorporated into a model of learning in a study of a US steam-electric power plant. It was found that design variation diminished learning when an agent contracted with different principals. Agent learning was also reduced after an increase in cost uncertainty in the late 1970s and 1980s while the locus of learning may have shifted from agents to principals.

Heavy construction, not elsewhere classified, Manufacturing and Industrial Building Construction, Electric Generating Plant Constr, Design and construction, Electric power plants, Power plants, Agency (Law), Learning curves, Experience curves, Electric power plant construction

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The effect of industrial structure on learning by doing in nuclear power plant operation

Article Abstract:

The plant standardization and single ownership features of the French nuclear power industry, as opposed to the non-standardization and multiple-firm ownership characteristics of US light water reactor power plants, facilitate the sharing of information and experience that can improve operating performance. A learning model incorporating the potential effects of nuclear industrial structure is presented, and it is recommended that future US reactor designs should be standardized to enhance learning and that operating organizations should be expanded to populate multi-unit sites.

Management, Economic aspects, Nuclear power plants, Experiential learning

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Industrial concentration, output, and trade: an empirical exploration

Article Abstract:

The relationship between concentration, output and trade is discussed with the help of an empirical analysis of pooled cross-section data from 82 industries in 7 countries. It was observed that higher industrial concentration results in lower output and net exports.

International trade, Industrial concentration

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