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Contestability in the Presence of an Alternate Market: An Experimental Examination

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  • Jamie L. Brown-Kruse

Abstract

Most earlier experimental tests of the contestable market hypothesis assume a zero opportunity cost of entry. This design feature makes interpretation of results in terms of entry behavior problematic. The experimental study that I report tests contestability with the addition of an alternative market that yields a positive profit with certainty. This safe haven operationalizes a positive opportunity cost of entry. Hit-and-run entry is observed in the experiments. Adjusted mean prices are not significantly different from the zero opportunity cost case. Two methodological questions are also examined. In one treatment, sellers' price offers are allowed only in $0.25 increments. The simplification of the sellers' decision space makes collusive arrangements more probable. Secondly, market outcomes using human subject buyers are compared with outcomes from experiments with computer-simulated demand. The disciplining effect of human subject buyers results in market prices that converge to competitive levels more quickly.

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  • Jamie L. Brown-Kruse, 1991. "Contestability in the Presence of an Alternate Market: An Experimental Examination," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 22(1), pages 136-147, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:rje:randje:v:22:y:1991:i:spring:p:136-147
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    Cited by:

    1. Collins, Sean M. & James, Duncan & Servátka, Maroš & Vadovič, Radovan, 2021. "Attainment of equilibrium via Marshallian path adjustment: Queueing and buyer determinism," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 94-106.
    2. Bradley J. Ruffle, 2005. "Buyer Countervailing Power: A Survey of Experimental Evidence," Working Papers 0512, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Economics.
    3. Dasgupta Utteeyo, 2011. "Are Entry Threats Always Credible?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-41, December.
    4. Gong, Binlei, 2018. "Interstate competition in agriculture: Cheer or fear? Evidence from the United States and China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 37-47.
    5. Duffy, John, 2006. "Agent-Based Models and Human Subject Experiments," Handbook of Computational Economics, in: Leigh Tesfatsion & Kenneth L. Judd (ed.), Handbook of Computational Economics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 19, pages 949-1011, Elsevier.
    6. Collins, Sean M. & James, Duncan & Servátka, Maroš & Vadovič, Radovan, 2020. "Attainment of Equilibrium: Marshallian Path Adjustment and Buyer Determinism," MPRA Paper 104103, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Brian M. Lucey & Sile Li, 2015. "What precious metals act as safe havens, and when? Some US evidence," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 35-45, January.
    8. Vernon L. Smith, 1994. "Economics in the Laboratory," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 113-131, Winter.
    9. Yuan, Lingran & Zhang, Qizheng & Wang, Shuo & Hu, Weibin & Gong, Binlei, 2022. "Effects of international trade on world agricultural production and productivity: evidence from a panel of 126 countries 1962-2014," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 25(2), March.

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