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Price dispersion

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  • ANDERSON, Simon
  • de PALMA, André

Abstract

We model firm pricing given consumers follow simple reservation price rules. Such reservation rules are rational when consumers are sufficiently impatient. The equilibrium exhibits price dispersion in pure strategies, with lower price firms earning higher profits. The range of price dispersion increases with the number of firms: the highest price is the monopoly one, while the lowest price tends to marginal cost. The average transaction price remains substantially above marginal cost even in the limit. Introducing shoppers may increase market prices. Finally, we show that equilibrium prices become less dispersed as consumers become more patient.

Suggested Citation

  • ANDERSON, Simon & de PALMA, André, 2003. "Price dispersion," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2003032, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2003032
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    price dispersion; reservation price rule; passive search;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games

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