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How Many Firms Should Be Leaders? Beneficial Concentration Revisited

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroaki Ino

    (Kwansei Gakuin University)

  • Toshihiro Matsumura

    (University of Tokyo)

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and welfare. First, we discuss the model wherein m leaders and N - m followers compete. Daughety (1990) finds that under linear demand and constant marginal cost, the Stackelberg model yields larger welfare and HHI than the Cournot model. Thus, he demonstrates that beneficial concentration occurs. We find that this always occurs under general cost and demand functions when m is sufficiently large, but does not always occur when m is small. Next, we consider the free entry of followers, and find that beneficial concentration always occurs regardless of m. In particular, the more persistent the leadership, the more likely it is to be beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroaki Ino & Toshihiro Matsumura, 2009. "How Many Firms Should Be Leaders? Beneficial Concentration Revisited," Discussion Paper Series 48, School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University, revised Oct 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:kgu:wpaper:48
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    HHI; beneficial concentration; leadership; free entry market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L40 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - General

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