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Competition in Multi-characteristics Spaces: Hotelling was Almost Right

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Author Info
Irmen, Andreas
Thisse, Jacques-François

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Abstract

Lancasterian models of product differentiation typically assume a one-dimensional characteristics space. We show that standard results on prices and locations no longer hold when firms compete in a multi-characteristics space. In the location game with n characteristics, firms choose to maximize differentiation in the dominant characteristic and to minimize differentiation in the others when the salience coefficient of the former is sufficiently large. Thus, the principle of minimum differentiation holds for all but one characteristic. Furthermore, prices do not necessarily fall when products get closer in the characteristics space because price competition is relaxed when products are differentiated enough in the dominant characteristic.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 1446.

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Date of creation: Oct 1996
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:1446

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Keywords: Agglomeration; Multi-characteristics Space; Product Positioning;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
M3 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Marketing and Advertising
R3 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Production Analysis and Firm Location

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