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I have been at Laurier since 2002. Previously, I taught at the University of Sydney (1989-2002) and Trent University (1987-9). I received a BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1982 and an MA in 1983 and PhD in 1989 from Queen's University. At Laurier, I have served as the Director of the MA in Business Economics (2006-9), University Senator (2009-15), Member of the Board of Governors (2013-15) and Chair of the Economics Department (2009-18).
My main research interest is in mergers and managerial compensation in oligopoly. One of my current projects involves examining whether or not mergers provide a vehicle for innovation. A second project attempts to explain the emergence of retailer groups in industries such as automobiles (AutoNation, Auto Canada) and gasoline (Couche-Tard). A third project looks at how the profitability of mergers is affected by changes in managerial compensation contracts brought about by merger. A secondary research interest is exploring the uniqueness and efficiency properties of simple mechanisms for solving externality and public good provision problems.
I would be interested in supervising students interested in doing theoretical or empirical work in mergers. In the past, I have supervised students who have looked at mergers in the Canadian beer industry and the U.S. banking industry.
- (2007), “Hierarchies, intra-firm competition and mergers,” International Journal of Industrial Organization 25(2), 237-60.
- (2005), “Horizontal mergers and successive oligopoly,” Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade 5(2), 99-114.
- (2001), ”Horizontal mergers and delegation,” International Journal of Industrial Organization 19(3-4), 471-92.
- (1999), ”Divisionalization and strategic managerial incentives in oligopoly under uncertainty,” International Journal of Industrial Organization, 17(8), 1163-1187.
- (1998), “Divisionalization and product differentiation,” Economics Letters 59(1), 133-38.
- (1997), “A solution to the problem of externalities when agents are well-informed: comment,” American Economic Review 87(1), 231-35.
- (1997), “Strategic trade policy and vertical separation,” Review of International Economics 5(1), 142-52.
- (1996), “Public good provision and the Smith Process,” Economic Design 2, 245-61.
- (1996), “Contracts as a barrier to entry: comment,” American Economic Review 86(3), June, 672-74.
- (1995),”Vertical separation and horizontal mergers,” Journal of Industrial Economics 43(1), 63-75.
- (1994), “Strategic R&D with spillovers, collusion and welfare,” Journal of Industrial Economics 42(4), 375-93.
- (1993), “Entry deterrence, cost advantage and horizontal product differentiation,” Regional Science and Urban Economics 23(4), 523-43.
Contact Info:
E: sziss@wlu.ca
F: 519.888.1015
Office location: LH3081
Office hours:
Spring 2022:
By appointment only
Languages spoken: English, French, German