MONOPOLY AND OLIGOPOLY PROVISION OF ADDICTIVE GOODS
Article Abstract:
This article investigates monopoly and oligopoly provision of an addictive good. Consumer preferences are modeled as in Becker and Murphy (1988). Addictive goods have characteristics that create interesting strategic issues when suppliers are noncompetitive. We characterize the perfect Markov equilibrium of a market with noncompetitive supply of an addictive good and compare it with the efficient solution. Depending on particular parameter values, we find a wide variety of possible steady-state outcomes, including ones with output above the efficient level and price below marginal cost. We also find that market power can be disadvantageous.
Publication Name: International Economic Review
Subject: Economics
ISSN: 0020-6598
Year: 2001
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REVISITING THE LEMONS MARKET
Article Abstract:
This article extends the standard competitive adverse selection model by allowing for qualitatively different information structures of agents on the informed side of the market. Using the stylized framework of the market for used cars, we examine the welfare properties of equilibria under the assumption that a fraction of the sellers remains uninformed about a parameter that is relevant for their own transaction. Whether market performance increases or decreases in the number of uninformed sellers is shown to depend on (1) the potential gains from trade in the market and (2) the average quality of the sellers' information structure.
Publication Name: International Economic Review
Subject: Economics
ISSN: 0020-6598
Year: 2001
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A PARTIAL REHABILITATION OF HOTELLING'S MC-PRICING THEOREM
Article Abstract:
Harold Hotelling's celebrated theorem on the optimality of marginal cost pricing was criticized first by Frisch and later by Silberberg on the grounds that he did not use the marginal cost pricing condition in his original proof and hence that it did not constitute a valid proof. This note demonstrates that a key equation in Hotelling's proof is locally satisfied if and only if prices are set equal to marginal cost at the initial equilibrium and reexamines the validity of Hotelling's proof.
Publication Name: International Economic Review
Subject: Economics
ISSN: 0020-6598
Year: 2001
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