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Satisficing And Prior‐Free Optimality In Price Competition

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  • WERNER GÜTH
  • MARIA VITTORIA LEVATI
  • MATTEO PLONER

Abstract

We apply a model of satisficing to oligopoly markets with price competition. Sellers have profit aspirations reflecting their conjectures about their competitors' behavior and search for a price guaranteeing these aspirations. Because it seems implausible that people have detailed priors on the others' actions, we postulate that sellers entertain multiple conjectures to which no probabilities can be assigned. This allows us to propose a theory of “prior‐free” optimality and to examine experimentally whether people comply with it. We find that decision makers have difficulties in making prior‐free optimal choices. Most are content to just satisfice, although ways to aspire to more ambitious profits were obviously available. (JEL C92, C72, D43)

Suggested Citation

  • Werner Güth & Maria Vittoria Levati & Matteo Ploner, 2012. "Satisficing And Prior‐Free Optimality In Price Competition," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 50(2), pages 470-483, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:50:y:2012:i:2:p:470-483
    DOI: j.1465-7295.2010.00365.x
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    2. Werner Güth & Matteo Ploner, 2017. "Mentally perceiving how means achieve ends," Rationality and Society, , vol. 29(2), pages 203-225, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

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