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On monopolistic competition and optimal product diversity: workers' rents also matter

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  • Pierre M. Picard
  • Eric Toulemonde

Abstract

In the Dixit-Stiglitz model of monopolistic competition, entry of firms is socially too small. Other authors have shown that excess entry is also a possibility with other preferences for diversity. We show that workers' rents also contribute to explain excess entry through a general equilibrium mechanism. Larger wages indeed raises the aggregate earnings and firms sales and profits, which entices too many firms to enter. We discuss the possibility of over-provision of varieties by comparing the equilibrium to unconstrained and constrained social optima and to other regulatory frameworks where wages are not controlled.

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  • Pierre M. Picard & Eric Toulemonde, 2009. "On monopolistic competition and optimal product diversity: workers' rents also matter," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 42(4), pages 1347-1360, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:42:y:2009:i:4:p:1347-1360
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2009.01553.x
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    4. Pierre M. Picard & Eric Toulemonde, 2009. "On monopolistic competition and optimal product diversity: workers' rents also matter," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(4), pages 1347-1360, November.
    5. Dixit, Avinash K & Stiglitz, Joseph E, 1977. "Monopolistic Competition and Optimum Product Diversity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 67(3), pages 297-308, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Iwaisako, Tatsuro, 2019. "Welfare analysis of uniform entry tax in a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous industries," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 54-57.
    2. Pierre M. Picard & Eric Toulemonde, 2009. "On monopolistic competition and optimal product diversity: workers' rents also matter," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(4), pages 1347-1360, November.
    3. Amitrajeet Batabyal & Peter Nijkamp, 2014. "Innovation, Decentralization, and Planning in a Multi-Region Model of Schumpeterian Economic Growth," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 605-628, December.
    4. Wei-Bin Zhang, 2018. "An Integration of Solow’s Growth and Dixit-Stiglitz’s Monopolistic Competition Models," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 68(4), pages 3-19, October-D.
    5. Wei-Bin Zhang, 2019. "Competition versus Monopolistic Competition by Integrating Solow-Uzawa and Dixit-Stiglitz," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 390-400, December.

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    JEL classification:

    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure

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