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Intra-Industry Trade with Bertrand and Cournot Oligopoly: The Role of Endogenous Horizontal Product Differentiation

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  • James A. Brander
  • Barbara J. Spencer

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of endogenous horizontal product differentiation on trade patterns and the gains from trade under Bertrand and Cournot oligopoly. Firms differentiate their products to mitigate competition, but only if the investment required is not too high. Investment in product differentiation takes place in a much wider range of cases and results in a greater difference between products under Bertrand than Cournot competition. In our model, trade in homogeneous products never takes place under Bertrand competition: Bertrand firms export only if they differentiate their products. Cournot firms may trade in either homogeneous or differentiated products. If there is trade, consumers tend to be better off with Bertrand than Cournot competition due to greater product differentiation and more aggressive pricing, but higher levels of investment can raise Bertrand profit above Cournot profit and also above the monopoly profit at autarky when investment costs are sufficiently low.

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  • James A. Brander & Barbara J. Spencer, 2015. "Intra-Industry Trade with Bertrand and Cournot Oligopoly: The Role of Endogenous Horizontal Product Differentiation," NBER Working Papers 21008, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21008
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    4. Kanehara, Daishoku & Kamei, Keita, 2019. "Transport Price, Product Differentiation and R&D in an Oligopoly," MPRA Paper 93148, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Longhua Liu & X. Henry Wang & Chenhang Zeng, 2020. "Endogenous Horizontal Product Differentiation in a Mixed Duopoly," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 56(3), pages 435-462, May.
    6. Didier Laussel, 2018. "Strategic Product Design under Duopoly," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 131, pages 25-44.
    7. James A. Brander & Barbara J. Spencer, 2022. "Differentiated Entry or “Me-Too” Entry in Bertrand and Cournot Oligopoly," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 60(1), pages 1-27, February.
    8. Kawabata, Yasushi, 2015. "Endogenous formation of free trade agreements in vertically related markets," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 214-223.
    9. Peter Neary & Dermot Leahy, 2015. "When The Threat Is Stronger Than The Execution: Trade Liberalization And Welfare Under Oligopoly," Economics Series Working Papers 775, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    10. John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2022. "International trade, differentiated goods, and strategic asymmetry," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1178-1198, January.
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    12. Maria Rosa Battaggion & Vittoria Cerasi, 2018. "Endogenous interlocking directorates," Working Papers 380, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised 01 May 2018.
    13. Keith Head & Barbara J. Spencer, 2017. "Oligopoly in international trade: Rise, fall and resurgence," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(5), pages 1414-1444, December.
    14. Bloomfield, Matthew J., 2021. "Compensation disclosures and strategic commitment: Evidence from revenue-based pay," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 620-643.
    15. Boone, Jan & Žigić, Krešimir, 2015. "Trade policy in markets with collusion: The case of North–South R&D spillovers," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 224-237.
    16. Rabah Amir & Jim Y. Jin & Michael Troege, 2022. "On the limits of free trade in a Cournot world: When are restrictions on trade beneficial?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(4), pages 2036-2057, November.
    17. Conze, Maximilian & Kramm, Michael, 2017. "The different effect of consumer learning on incentives to differentiate in Cournot and Bertrand competition," Ruhr Economic Papers 666, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    18. Hongkun Ma & X. Henry Wang & Chenhang Zeng, 2021. "Location choice and costly product differentiation in a mixed duopoly," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(1), pages 137-159, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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