The general density dependence model can be applied to explain the founding of specialist firms (those attempting to serve a narrow target market). According to this model, specialist foundings hinge on the interplay between legitimation and competitive forces, both of which are functions of the density (total number) of firms in a particular specialist population. Legitimation occurs as a new type of firm moves from being viewed as unfamiliar to being viewed as a natural way to organize. At low density levels, each founding increases legitimation, reducing barriers to entry and easing subsequent foundings. Competition occurs because the resources that firms seek--customers, suppliers, and employees--are limited, but as long as density is low relative to plentiful resources, the addition of another firm has a negligible impact on the intensity of competition. At high density levels, however, competitive effects outweigh legitimation effects, discouraging foundings. The more numerous the competitors, the fiercer the competition will be and the smaller will be the incentive for new firms to enter the field.

While several studies have found a significant correspondence between the density dependence model and actual patterns of foundings, other studies have found patterns not consistent with the model. A possible explanation for this inconsistency is that legitimation and competitive forces transcend national boundaries, while studies typically restrict their analysis to the national level. Thus a national-level analysis can understate the true legitimation and competitive forces as well as the number of foundings in an industry that is internationally integrated. Many industries are or are becoming international, and since media and information easily cross national borders, so should legitimation and its effects on overseas foundings. For example, if a type of firm becomes established in the United States, that information transcends borders, reduces uncertainties, and helps foundings of that type of firm in other countries. Even within national contexts, studies have found more support for the density dependence model when they employ broader geographic units of analysis--for example, finding that the model's operation is seen more clearly at the state and national levels than at city levels.

第1题 第2题 第3题 第4题

The primary purpose of the passage is to


question the validity of an economic model

point out some inconsistencies within an economic model

outline an economic model and suggest revisions to it

describe an economic model and provide specific examples to illustrate its use

explain why an economic model remains valid despite inconsistent research results

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考题讲解

题目分析：

题目释义：

主旨题目

考点：

主旨（Main idea）
旨在考察我们对文章整体的把握程度，对文章的结构的分析能力和把控能力，以及对作者逻辑的判断。



选项分析：

A选项：对于一个经济模型的有效性提出质疑。文章的第二段确实对这个模型提出了质疑，但是这个质疑的目的是作者的让步，为的是提出可能的解释。

B选项：指出一些不符合这个经济模型的地方。文中第二段指出了有些研究指出实际情况和此模型不一致。但是还是A选型那句老话，作者不是要说这个不一致，而是要突出其实是一致的。

C选项：概括一个经济模型并给出一些修改建议。这个选项前半部分很对，但是作者并没有要修改这个model的意思。文中提到有问题的不是model本身，而是第二段开头提到的studies，切勿混为一谈。

D选项：描述一个经济模型并给出具体的例子来说明这个模型的用途。前半部分对，后半部分中，作者也确实提出了一个例子，不过这个例子不是为了说明用途的，而是为了说明为什么要在“international level” 上才能应用这个经济模型。

E选项：Correct。解释尽管有一些研究说明实际情况不符合经济模型，但它仍然是有效的。第二段就为了说明了这一点。第一段是为了让读者了解这个模型，第二段才是作者真正要表达的意思。

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