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Mara Lederman

Mara Lederman

Mara Lederman

Professor of Strategic Management

Degrees:

PhD in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
BA (Hons.) in Economics, University of Western Ontario

Phone:

416-946-0196

Bio

Mara does empirical research in the areas of Industrial Organization and Organizational Economics. At a broad level, Mara studies how companies compete and how they organize themselves for competitive advantage.  She is best known for her research on loyalty programs and vertical integration. Much of her work has been focused on the airline industry and she is recognized as an expert in this area. Her work has been published in the American Economic Review, the RAND Journal of Economics and the Review of Economics and Statistics, among others.  On the teaching side, Mara delivers courses on strategy, data analytics, and business problem-solving in Rotman’s MBA and Executive Education programs. 

Academic Positions

  • 2015-

    Director of Resarch Resources and Centres, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

  • 2019-

    Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

  • 2012-2019

    Associate Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

  • 2003-2012

    Assistant Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Selected Publications - Papers

  • Quality Disclosure Programs and Internal Organization Practices: Evidence from Airline Flight Delays

    with Silke J. Forbes and Trevor Tombe

    American Economic Journal: Microeconomics

    Issue:7 (2)

    2015

    Pages: 1-26

  • Contract Form and Technology Adoption in Network Industries

    with Silke J. Forbes

    Journal of Law, Economics and Organization

    Issue:29, no. 2

    2013

  • Product Recalls, Imperfect Information, and Spillover Effects: Lessons from the Consumer Response to the 2007 Toy Recalls

    with Seth Freedman and Melissa S. Kearney

    Review of Economics and Statistics

    Issue:94 (2)

    2012

    Pages: 499-516

  • The Performance Implications of Vertical Integration: Evidence from the Airline Industry

    with Silke J. Forbes

    RAND Journal of Economics

    Issue:41 (4)

    2010

    Pages: 765-790

  • Adaptation and Vertical Integration in the Airline Industry

    with Silke J. Forbes

    American Economic Review

    Issue:December

    2009

  • Software Exclusivity and the Scope of Indirect Network Effects in the U.S. Home Video Game Market

    with Kenneth S. Corts

    International Journal of Industrial Organization

    Issue:March

    2009

    Pages: 121-36

  • Are Frequent Flyer Programs a Cause of the Hub Premium’

    Journal of Economics and Management Strategy

    Issue:17(1)

    2008

    Pages: 35-66

  • Do Enhancements to Loyalty Programs Affect Demand? The Impact of International Frequent Flyer Partnerships on Domestic Airline Demand

    Rand Journal of Economics

    Issue:38(4)

    2007

    Pages: 1134-1158

Research and Teaching Interests

Mara does empirical research in the areas of Industrial Organization and Organizational Economics. At a broad level, Mara studies how companies compete and how they organize themselves for competitive advantage. She is best known for her work on loyalty programs and vertical integration. Much of her work has been focused on the airline industry and she is recognized as an expert in this area. Her current research focuses on the impact of market structure on price discrimination and the role of social media as a mechanism for customer complaints.

On the teaching side, Mara delivers courses related to business strategy, data-driven decision making and business analytics in the Rotman MBA and Executive Education programs. In 2012, Mara co-developed Rotman's Capstone course - a business problem-solving course in which MBA students use data to solve an ongoing business problem providing by a partner organization. In 2014, she developed a new Executive Education workshop on 'Leading a Data-Driven Organization' and, in June 2015, she launched Rotman's 'Data Literacy for Managers' program.

Honors and Awards

  • 2016

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2015

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2014

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2014

    Roger Martin Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2011

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2013

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2010

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2008

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2013-2106

    Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Insight Grant, University of Toronto

  • 2011

    Dean's Excellence in Research Award, University of Toronto

  • 2006

    Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2005

    Rotman Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Toronto

  • 2008-2011

    Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Resarch Award, University of Toronto

  • 2004-2005

    Connaught New Staff Matching Grant, University of Toronto

  • 1999-2003

    SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, MIT

  • 1999-2000

    MIT Graduate Fellowship, MIT

  • 1998-1999

    Ida M. Green Fellowship, MIT

Professional Affiliations/Memberships

  • American Economic Association