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The Relative Rigidity of Monopoly Pricing

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  • Rotemberg, Julio J
  • Saloner, Garth

Abstract

This paper seeks to explain why monopolies keep their nominal prices constant for longer periods than do tight oligopolies. The authors show that cost changes create a larger incentive for duopolists to change their prices, while demand changes tend to have a greater effect on a monopolist. When both costs and demand are affected by small changes in the overall price level, the cost effect dominates. In the presence of a small fixed cost of changing prices, therefore, duopolists change their prices in response to smaller perturbations in underlying conditions. Copyright 1987 by American Economic Association.

Suggested Citation

  • Rotemberg, Julio J & Saloner, Garth, 1987. "The Relative Rigidity of Monopoly Pricing," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(5), pages 917-926, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:77:y:1987:i:5:p:917-26
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olivier J. Blanchard & Nobuhiro Kiyotaki, 1985. "Monopolistic Competition, Aggregate Externalities and real Effects of Nominal Money," Working papers 401, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics.
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    5. M. Bronfenbrenner, 1940. "Applications of the Discontinuous Oligopoly Demand Curve," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 48(3), pages 420-420.
    6. Paul M. Sweezy, 1939. "Demand Under Conditions of Oligopoly," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(4), pages 568-568.
    7. Blanchard, Olivier J. & Kiyotaki, Nobuhiro, 1985. "Monopolistic Competition, Aggregate Demand Externalities and Real Effects Of Nominal Money," SSRI Workshop Series 292672, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Social Systems Research Institute.
    8. Rotemberg, Julio J, 1982. "Sticky Prices in the United States," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 90(6), pages 1187-1211, December.
    9. George J. Stigler, 1947. "The Kinky Oligopoly Demand Curve and Rigid Prices," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 55(5), pages 432-432.
    10. Simon, Julian L, 1969. "A Further Test of the Kinky Oligopoly Demand Curve," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 59(5), pages 971-975, December.
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