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Cournot outcomes under Bertrand–Edgeworth competition with demand uncertainty

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  • Lepore, Jason J.

Abstract

We provide new results for two-stage games in which firms make capacity investments when demand is uncertain, then, when demand is realized, compete in prices. We consider games with demand rationing schemes ranging from efficient to proportional rationing. In all cases, there is a subgame perfect equilibrium outcome coinciding with the outcome of the Cournot game with demand uncertainty if and only if (i) the fluctuation in absolute market size is small relative to the cost of capacity, or (ii) uncertainty is such that with high probability the market demand is very large and with the remaining probability the market demand is extremely small. Otherwise, equilibria involve mixed strategies. Further, we show under efficient rationing that condition (i) is sufficient for the unique equilibrium outcome to be an equilibrium outcome of the Cournot game with demand uncertainty.

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  • Lepore, Jason J., 2012. "Cournot outcomes under Bertrand–Edgeworth competition with demand uncertainty," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 177-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:mateco:v:48:y:2012:i:3:p:177-186
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmateco.2012.04.001
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    2. Barna Bakó & Attila Tasnádi, 2017. "The Kreps-Scheinkman Game in Mixed Duopolies," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 173(4), pages 753-768, December.
    3. Edwards, Robert A. & Routledge, Robert R., 2022. "Information, Bertrand–Edgeworth competition and the law of one price," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Attila Tasnádi, 2016. "Endogenous timing of moves in Bertrand–Edgeworth triopolies," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 12(4), pages 317-334, December.
    5. Leoni, Patrick L., 2013. "Survival in Cournot games," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(5), pages 429-434.
    6. Somogyi, Robert, 2020. "Bertrand–Edgeworth competition with substantial horizontal product differentiation," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 27-37.
    7. Tasnádi, Attila & Bakó, Barna, 2014. "A Kreps-Scheinkman-állítás érvényessége lineáris keresletű vegyes duopóliumok esetén [The Kreps and Scheinkman result remains valid for mixed duopolies with linear demand]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(5), pages 533-543.
    8. Kim, Jeong-Yoo & Lee, Myeong Ho & Berg, Nathan, 2016. "Peak-load pricing in duopoly," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 47-54.
    9. Somogyi, Robert & Vergote, Wouter & Virag, Gabor, 2023. "Price competition with capacity uncertainty - feasting on leftovers," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 253-271.
    10. de Almeida Prado, Fernando Pigeard & Blavatskyy, Pavlo, 2021. "Existence and uniqueness of price equilibrium in oligopoly model with power demand," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 1-10.
    11. Robert Somogyi, 2013. "Bertrand-Edgeworth competition with substantial product differentiation," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 1332, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    12. Christiaan Behrens & Mark Lijesen, 2012. "Capacity Choice under Uncertainty with Product Differentiation," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 12-113/VIII, Tinbergen Institute, revised 20 Feb 2014.
    13. Alexander Maslov, 2023. "Bertrand Duopoly in Online Consumer-to-Consumer Markets," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 63(1), pages 97-109, August.
    14. Jason J. Lepore & Aric P. Shafran, 2013. "Consumer Rationing and Cournot Outcomes: Experimental Evidence," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 79(3), pages 727-746, January.
    15. Jacobs, Martin, 2016. "Number of firms, rationing, matching, and knowledge: A comprehensive study of variations in experimental Kreps-Scheinkman markets," Economics Working Papers 2016-02, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Department of Economics.

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