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Optimal regulation of technical progress in natural monopolies with asymmetric information

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Kuhn

    (University of Technology Chemnitz-Zwickau, D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany)

  • Uwe Cantner

    (Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstrasse 16, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany)

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to characterize regulatory mechanisms for natural monopolies to provide for optimal technical progress when information is asymmetric. We model a Bayesian-Nash game where the monopolist has private knowledge of the cost-reducing effects of R&D investment to generate process innovations. In the first case, a price-regulated, profit-maximizing firm whose R&D level is unobservable sets its R&D level efficiently to maximize profits at the output level chosen by the firm. However, the level of technical progress achieved by the firm in this case is too high from the regulator's point of view since, in the second-best regulated solution of interest, the regulator has to provide for the R&D expenditures, assumed sunk, as well as for information rents transferred to the firm. In a second case, it can be shown that if the regulator can observe and set limits on the firm's investment in R&D, social welfare is improved, even though the regulated investment level is no longer efficient at the output level chosen by the firm. The reason for the welfare improvement is that losses in consumer surplus due to a decrease in output and an increase in the price are offset by a decrease in information rents and R&D costs transferred, causing the social costs of public funds to fall.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Kuhn & Uwe Cantner, 1999. "Optimal regulation of technical progress in natural monopolies with asymmetric information," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 4(3), pages 191-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reecde:v:4:y:1999:i:3:p:191-204
    Note: Received: 31 July 1994 / Accepted: 15 January 1999
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ismail Saglam, 2023. "Incentives of a monopolist for innovation under regulatory threat," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 41-66, March.
    2. Grebel, Thomas & Islam, Rohidul, 2022. "Endogenous cap reduction in Emission Trading Systems," Ilmenau Economics Discussion Papers 169, Ilmenau University of Technology, Institute of Economics.
    3. Jean-Christophe Poudou & Lionel Thomas, 2010. "On optimal regulation of price and R&D with asymmetric information," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 14(3), pages 251-269, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial regulation; technical progress; natural monopoly; institutions and incentives;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods

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