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Evolution of Behavior When Duopolists Choose Prices and Quantities

Author

Listed:
  • Abhimanyu Khan

    (Shiv Nadar University)

  • Ronald Peeters

    (University of Otago)

Abstract

We study the stable market outcome that evolves when firms, that operate in a spatially differentiated duopolistic market, recurrently choose prices and quantities via an imitation dynamic. In particular, given that firms choose both prices and quantities, we do not explicitly impose market clearing. We find that: (i) a market-clearing outcome always belongs to the set of stable long-run outcomes, (ii) when the level of market differentiation is low, non-market-clearing outcomes (with excess supply as well as excess demand) are also stable, (iii) when the level of market differentiation is not too high or too low, the stable long-run outcomes imply market clearing at prices above monopoly level, and (iv) when the level of market differentiation is high, the stable long-run outcome implies market clearing at the monopoly price.

Suggested Citation

  • Abhimanyu Khan & Ronald Peeters, 2020. "Evolution of Behavior When Duopolists Choose Prices and Quantities," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 493-508, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:dyngam:v:10:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s13235-019-00325-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s13235-019-00325-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Khan, Abhimanyu & Peeters, Ronald, 2015. "Imitation by price and quantity setting firms in a differentiated market," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 28-36.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Duopoly; Horizontal differentiation; Price–quantity competition; Imitation; Long-run stability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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