We set up a duopoly model with dynamic capacity constraints under demand uncertainty. We endogenize the investment decisions of the ?rms, examine their intertemporal pricing behavior, their incentives to merge, as well as the welfare implications of a merger. Whereas under known and constant demand the high capacity ?rm lets its low capacity rival sell out, under demand uncertainty we obtain a rich set of sales patterns. Each unit of available capacity has an option value (or opportunity cost), which depends on both ?rms? capacities, the current demand and the remaining horizon. This option value may be higher when the ?rms act non-cooperatively compared to the case when they merge to form a monopoly. Trade surplus may be higher when a merger takes place, as capacity is more e? ciently managed over time. The prospect of a merger also leads to higher investment levels, as each ?rm wishes to appropriate a higher share of the total surplus. For some levels of the capacity installment cost, a merger that turns the duopoly into a monopoly is welfare improving.
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Paper provided by Department of Economics, University of Macedonia in its series Discussion Paper Series with number
2009_06.
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Levitan, Richard & Shubik, Martin, 1972.
"Price Duopoly and Capacity Constraints,"
International Economic Review,
Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 13(1), pages 111-22, February.
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