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Successive Oligopolies and Decreasing Returns

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  • Zanaj Skerdilajda

    (University of Luxembourg, skerdilajda.zanaj@uni.lu)

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze successive oligopolies where downstream firms share the same decreasing returns technology of the Cobb-Douglas type. We stress the differences between the conclusions obtained under this assumption and those resulting from the traditional literature in which output firms use a constant returns technology. It is shown that when firms use a decreasing returns technology, (i) the profit of a downstream firm can decrease when the upstream market is more competitive; (ii) the input price does not tend to the corresponding marginal cost when the number of firms in both markets tends to infinite; and (iii) double marginalization is lower. Finally, the effects of mergers are revisited to highlight the role played by the technology of output firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Zanaj Skerdilajda, 2010. "Successive Oligopolies and Decreasing Returns," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejtec:v:10:y:2010:i:1:n:48
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1704.1595
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean Gabszewicz & Didier Laussel & Tanguy Ypersele & Skerdilajda Zanaj, 2013. "Market Games in Successive Oligopolies," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 15(3), pages 397-410, June.
    2. SANIN, Maria Eugenia & ZANAJ, Skerdilajda, 2007. "Environmental innovation under Cournot competition," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2007050, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    3. GABSZEWICZ, Jean J. & ZANAJ, Skerdilajda, 2007. "A note on successive oligopolies and vertical mergers," LIDAM Reprints CORE 2009, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    4. Jebaraj Asirvatham & Sanjib Bhuyan, 2018. "Incentives and Impacts of Vertical Coordination in a Food Production-Marketing Chain: A Non-cooperative Multi-Stage, Multi-Player Analysis," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 59-95, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    successive oligopolies; downstream technology; mergers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • L42 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Vertical Restraints; Resale Price Maintenance; Quantity Discounts

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