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Product Differentiation in Successive Vertical Oligopolies

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Belleflamme

    (Queen Mary, University of London)

  • Eric Toulemonde

    (University of Namur)

Abstract

This is a successive oligopoly model with two brands. Each downstream firm chooses one brand to sell on a final market. The upstream firms specialize in the production of one input specifically designed for the production of one brand, but they also produce the input for the other brand at an extra cost. We show that when more downstream firms choose one brand, more upstream firms will specialize in the input specific to that brand, and vice versa. Hence, multiple equilibria are possible and the softening effect of brand differentiation on competition might not be strong enough to induce maximal differentiation. The existence of equilibria and their welfare performance are also examined.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Belleflamme & Eric Toulemonde, 2000. "Product Differentiation in Successive Vertical Oligopolies," Working Papers 421, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
  • Handle: RePEc:qmw:qmwecw:421
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zanchettin, Piercarlo & Mukherjee, Arijit, 2017. "Vertical integration and product differentiation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 25-57.
    2. Noriaki Matsushima, 2009. "Vertical Mergers And Product Differentiation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 812-834, December.
    3. Emanuele Bacchiega & Olivier Bonroy, 2015. "On the benefits of contractual inefficiency in quality-differentiated markets," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 67(3), pages 846-863.
    4. José Pontes, 2007. "Networks and firm location," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 41(4), pages 897-909, December.
    5. E. Bacchiega & O. Bonroy, 2012. "Vertical relations and number of channels in quality-differentiated markets," Working Papers wp823, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    6. André Rocha & José Pedro Pontes, 2005. "Spatial Cournot Oligopoly with Vertical Linkages," Working Papers Department of Economics 2005/11, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    7. Noriaki Matsushima & Tomomichi Mizuno, 2009. "Input specificity and product differentiation," ISER Discussion Paper 0745, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    8. Erkal, Nisvan, 2007. "Buyer-supplier interaction, asset specificity, and product choice," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 988-1010, October.
    9. José Pedro Pontes, 2004. "Agglomeration in a Vertically-linked Oligopoly," Working Papers Department of Economics 2004/06, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    10. Matsushima, Noriaki, 2004. "Technology of upstream firms and equilibrium product differentiation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(8-9), pages 1091-1114, November.
    11. Vermeulen, B. & Huisman, K.J.M. & Kok, A.G. de, 2015. "Vertical governance change and product differentiation under decreasing component costs," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 65-76.
    12. Jose Pedro Pontes, 2005. "Input Specificity and Location," Working Papers Department of Economics 2005/01, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Product differentiation; Vertical relationships; Oligopoly;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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