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Mixed oligopoly and raising rivals' costs

Author

Listed:
  • Kenneth Fjell
  • John S. Heywood
  • Debashis Pal

Abstract

We show that the presence of a welfare maximizing public firm in an oligopoly guarantees that no firm has an incentive to raise the costs of domestic private rivals. This represents another example of regulation by participation. There remains an incentive to raise the costs of the public firm and of foreign private rivals. We also explore which firms are most likely to have their costs raised and which firms are most likely to raise rivals' costs. Oligopole mixte et augmentation des coûts des rivaux. On montre que la présence d'une entreprise publique maximisant le bien‐être dans un oligopole garantit qu'aucune entreprise n'a intérêt à augmenter les coûts de ses rivaux privés nationaux. Il s'agit là d'un autre exemple de réglementation par la participation. Il reste toutefois une incitation à augmenter les coûts de l'entreprise publique et des concurrents privés étrangers. On examine également les entreprises les plus susceptibles de voir leurs coûts augmenter et celles les plus susceptibles d'augmenter les coûts de leurs rivaux.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth Fjell & John S. Heywood & Debashis Pal, 2025. "Mixed oligopoly and raising rivals' costs," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 58(3), pages 1044-1054, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:58:y:2025:i:3:p:1044-1054
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12762
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    References listed on IDEAS

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