This article shows that shifting losses from consumers with heterogeneous harm levels to vertically differentiated duopolists increases product safety levels, while narrowing the degree of product differentiation. Our setup features observable (but possibly nonverifiable) product safety levels and firms subject to strict liability according to a parametric liability specification. Firms’ expected liability payments depend on both product safety and price levels which critically influences the repercussions of shifting losses to firms. From a social standpoint, shifting some losses to firms is always beneficial.

中文翻译：

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垂直差异化产品市场中的产品责任

本文表明，将损失从具有不同危害水平的消费者转移到垂直区分的双寡头，可以提高产品安全性，同时缩小产品的区分程度。我们的设置具有可观察（但可能无法验证）的产品安全级别，并且根据参数责任规范对公司承担严格责任。企业的预期责任支付取决于产品安全性和价格水平，这严重影响了将损失转移给企业的影响。从社会的角度来看，将一些损失转移给公司总是有益的。