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Imitators and Optimizers in a Changing Environment

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  • Burkhard Hehenkamp
  • Oddvar Kaarbøe

Abstract

We analyze the dynamic interaction between imitators and optimizers in a changing world. To this end, we put forward a symmetric duopoly game of strategic substitutes where players interact repeatedly in a world of demand- and cost-uncertainty. If the environment changes every period, the process converges globally to a unique two-period cycle where the optimizer has highest payoff every period. As to the general stochastic case, we characterize the long-run average per-period payoff for the optimizer and the imitator respectively as a function of the environmental switching probabilities. It turns out that the imitator experiences selection pressure for a large range of switching probabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Burkhard Hehenkamp & Oddvar Kaarbøe, 2004. "Imitators and Optimizers in a Changing Environment," Discussion Papers in Economics 02_01, University of Dortmund, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mik:wpaper:02_01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gale, Douglas & Rosenthal, Robert W., 1999. "Experimentation, Imitation, and Stochastic Stability," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 1-40, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Schipper, Burkhard C., 2009. "Imitators and optimizers in Cournot oligopoly," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 1981-1990, December.
    2. Khan, Abhimanyu & Peeters, Ronald, 2015. "Imitation by price and quantity setting firms in a differentiated market," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 28-36.
    3. Fosco, Constanza & Mengel, Friederike, 2011. "Cooperation through imitation and exclusion in networks," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 641-658, May.
    4. Josephson, Jens, 2009. "Stochastic adaptation in finite games played by heterogeneous populations," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1543-1554, August.
    5. Matros, Alexander, 2012. "Altruistic versus egoistic behavior in a Public Good game," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 642-656.
    6. Tsakas, Nikolas, 2015. "Beatable imitation in symmetric games with perturbed payoffs," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 34-40.
    7. Burkhard Schipper & Peter Duersch & Joerg Oechssler, 2011. "Once Beaten, Never Again: Imitation in Two-Player Potential Games," Working Papers 26, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
    8. Burkhard Schipper, 2011. "Strategic Control of Myopic Best Reply in Repeated Games," Working Papers 284, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
    9. Burkhard C. Schipper, 2019. "Dynamic Exploitation of Myopic Best Response," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 1143-1167, December.
    10. Burkhard Schipper & Peter Duersch & Joerg Oechssler, 2011. "Once Beaten, Never Again: Imitation in Two-Player Potential Games," Working Papers 1112, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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