San Francisco Bay Area · University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Josephine Warner is an Economics and German graduate interested in how networks, incentives, and market structure shape business strategy, pricing, competition, and policy. Her past work includes research on airline alliance networks, pricing and consumer welfare, and Hawaiʻi’s solid-waste policy.
PROJECT 01
Network analysis · Pricing strategy · Market structure · Consumer welfare
ECON 355 · University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa · Spring 2026 · Collaborative research
How do different airline-network structures shape competitive strategy, pricing, revenue optimization, and consumer welfare?
Compared the three major global airline alliances, Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld, using concepts from network economics, game theory, pricing theory, market segmentation and welfare economics. The analysis examined how multi-hub-and-spoke, hybrid, and selectively concentrated networks correspond with different business strategies and customer outcomes.
| Alliance | Network shape | Strategic emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Star Alliance | Large multi-hub-and-spoke | Scale and global connectivity |
| SkyTeam | Hybrid | Connectivity balanced with flexibility |
| Oneworld | Selectively concentrated | High-value routes and premium travelers; yield per passenger over coverage |
Network structure creates a fundamental economic tradeoff. Greater connectivity and coordination can improve efficiency, expand consumer access and increase network value. The same structures can also increase market power, support price discrimination and reduce competition on concentrated routes.