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A Note on the Multidimensional Monopolist Problem and Intertemporal Price Discrimination

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  • Runco Mariano G

    (Auburn University Montgomery)

Abstract

This note analyzes a model of a monopolist selling multiple goods to a continuum of heterogeneous consumers. The implementation of Direct Revelation Mechanisms is analyzed in that setting, finding that it is possible for the monopolist to implement all Stochastic Incentive Compatible Mechanisms by committing to post a decreasing sequence of prices. The posted prices depend on time and have the desirable property of being step functions. When the optimal mechanisms are stochastic, it is optimal for the monopolist to price discriminate over time, contrary to the conventional wisdom that a single-good monopolist committed to an ex-ante price strategy will not price discriminate.

Suggested Citation

  • Runco Mariano G, 2010. "A Note on the Multidimensional Monopolist Problem and Intertemporal Price Discrimination," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejtec:v:10:y:2010:i:1:n:37
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1704.1659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Conlisk & Eitan Gerstner & Joel Sobel, 1984. "Cyclic Pricing by a Durable Goods Monopolist," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 99(3), pages 489-505.
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    4. Manelli, Alejandro M. & Vincent, Daniel R., 2007. "Multidimensional mechanism design: Revenue maximization and the multiple-good monopoly," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 137(1), pages 153-185, November.
    5. Michael Landsberger & Isaac Meilijson, 1985. "Intertemporal Price Discrimination and Sales Strategy under Incomplete Information," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 16(3), pages 424-430, Autumn.
    6. Winston Koh, 2006. "The micro-foundations of intertemporal price discrimination," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 27(2), pages 393-410, January.
    7. Roger B. Myerson, 1981. "Optimal Auction Design," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 6(1), pages 58-73, February.
    8. Nancy L. Stokey, 1979. "Intertemporal Price Discrimination," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 93(3), pages 355-371.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariano Runco, 2012. "Retail Pricing and Clearance Sales: The Multidimensional Case," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 32(1), pages 376-381.

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