@article {1973836,
	title = {The Impact of heterogeneity in consumer characteristics on the design of optimal time-of-use tariffs},
	journal = {Energy},
	year = {2022},
	month = {2022},
	abstract = {Unlike commercial and industrial sectors where they have been successfully deployed, the rollout of voluntary Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs in the residential sector has been tepid. One cause for this limited penetration of TOU tariffs in the residential sector is the difficulty in offering appropriate price incentives to a consumer class that is heterogeneous in its demographics and preferences. In this paper, we develop a parsimonious game-theoretic model to shed light on the optimal pricing problem from the utility{\textquoteright}s perspective when its consumers vary in their electricity consumption scheduling preferences as well as their willingness or flexibility to shift consumption in response to price incentives offered by the utility. Using this model, we generate structural insights into the role of the two types of consumer heterogeneity on the design and potential of voluntary TOU tariffs. We also show how our model and insights can be used to evaluate the current state and potential of TOU tariffs in two U.S. states.},
	keywords = {Supply Chain},
	author = {Murali,Karthik and Choi,Dong Gu}
}
@article {1984641,
	title = {The Impact of heterogeneity in consumer characteristics on the design of optimal time-of-use tariffs},
	journal = {Energy},
	volume = {254},
	year = {2022},
	month = {2022},
	abstract = {Unlike commercial and industrial sectors where they have been successfully deployed, the rollout of voluntary Time-of-Use (TOU) tariffs in the residential sector has been tepid. One cause for this limited penetration of TOU tariffs in the residential sector is the difficulty in offering appropriate price incentives to a consumer class that is heterogeneous in its demographics and preferences. In this paper, we develop a parsimonious game-theoretic model to shed light on the optimal pricing problem from the utility{\textquoteright}s perspective when its consumers vary in their electricity consumption scheduling preferences as well as their willingness or flexibility to shift consumption in response to price incentives offered by the utility. Using this model, we generate structural insights into the role of the two types of consumer heterogeneity on the design and potential of voluntary TOU tariffs. We also show how our model and insights can be used to evaluate the current state and potential of TOU tariffs in two U.S. states.},
	keywords = {Supply Chain},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.124248},
	author = {Murali,Karthik and Choi,Dong Gu}
}
@article {1984636,
	title = {Informal Cross-Border Trade in Africa: Operations, Policy, and Opportunities},
	journal = {Management Science},
	month = {2023 In Press},
	abstract = {Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) refers to the illegal activities of cross-border commerce conducted by unregistered small-scale traders. We seek to develop insights to understand the ICBT value chain and offer policy recommendations to successfully integrate it into the formal economy. Using a game-theoretic model, we analyze the operations and key market dynamics of ICBT. We analyze the policy implications of three representative UN directives: enhancing marginalized traders{\textquoteright} access to formal channels, reducing export tax rates for formal traders, and introducing an alternative simplified trade regime (STR) for informal traders. All three policies result in an increase in government proceeds when the inherent profitability of the formal or STR channels is sufficiently high. Furthermore, social welfare increases when the policies effectively balance wholesale price competition within the formal and informal channels. We apply our model to a case study based on Uganda{\textquoteright}s agricultural exports over an 11-year horizon. The access enhancement policy is most effective in increasing government proceeds but least effective in improving the welfare of other participants. The tax reduction policy enhances traders{\textquoteright} profitability but sacrifices the welfare of farmers and government proceeds substantially. Finally, the STR acknowledgement policy results in the largest increase in profitability of marginalized traders and farmers but comes at the cost of government proceeds.},
	keywords = {Supply Chain},
	author = {Park,Jimin and Lim,Michael K and Murali,Karthik}
}
