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Computational Methods for Oblivious Equilibrium

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Y. Weintraub

    (Business School, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027)

  • C. Lanier Benkard

    (Department of Economics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511)

  • Benjamin Van Roy

    (Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305)

Abstract

Oblivious equilibrium is a new solution concept for approximating Markov-perfect equilibrium in dynamic models of imperfect competition among heterogeneous firms. In this paper, we present algorithms for computing oblivious equilibrium and for bounding approximation error. We report results from computational case studies that serve to assess both efficiency of the algorithms and accuracy of oblivious equilibrium as an approximation to Markov-perfect equilibrium. We also extend the definition of oblivious equilibrium, originally proposed for models with only firm-specific idiosyncratic random shocks, and our algorithms to accommodate models with industry-wide aggregate shocks. Our results suggest that, by using oblivious equilibrium to approximate Markov-perfect equilibrium, it is possible to greatly increase the set of dynamic models of imperfect competition that can be analyzed computationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Y. Weintraub & C. Lanier Benkard & Benjamin Van Roy, 2010. "Computational Methods for Oblivious Equilibrium," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(4-part-2), pages 1247-1265, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:58:y:2010:i:4-part-2:p:1247-1265
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1090.0790
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    Cited by:

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    2. C. Lanier Benkard & Przemyslaw Jeziorski & Gabriel Y. Weintraub, 2015. "Oblivious equilibrium for concentrated industries," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 46(4), pages 671-708, October.
    3. Vivek Farias & Bar Ifrach & Gabriel Weintraub, 2012. "A Framework for Dynamic Oligopoly in Concentrated Industries," 2012 Meeting Papers 505, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Iacovone, Leonardo & Javorcik, Beata & Keller, Wolfgang & Tybout, James, 2015. "Supplier responses to Walmart's invasion in Mexico," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 1-15.
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    7. A. Ronald Gallant & Han Hong & Ahmed Khwaja, 2012. "Bayesian Estimation of a Dynamic Game with Endogenous, Partially Observed, Serially Correlated State," Working Papers 12-01, Duke University, Department of Economics.
    8. Ron Borkovsky & Ulrich Doraszelski & Yaroslav Kryukov, 2012. "A dynamic quality ladder model with entry and exit: Exploring the equilibrium correspondence using the homotopy method," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 197-229, June.
    9. Kenneth Judd & Garrett van Ryzin, 2010. "Preface to the Special Issue on Computational Economics," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(4-part-2), pages 1035-1036, August.
    10. Gallant, A. Ronald & Hong, Han & Khwaja, Ahmed, 2018. "A Bayesian approach to estimation of dynamic models with small and large number of heterogeneous players and latent serially correlated states," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 203(1), pages 19-32.

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