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Competition in multiple characteristics: An empirical test of location equilibrium

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  • Elizalde, Javier

Abstract

With products differentiated in multiple dimensions, the location equilibrium for a duopolistic market exhibits maximum differentiation in one dimension and minimum differentiation in all the other dimensions. This paper analyses whether this equilibrium arises using real data for the Spanish movie theatre exhibition market where the firms (cinemas) are differentiated along two main dimensions (their geographical location and the set of movies exhibited). Data not only shows a trade-off, in that closer theatres tend to choose a higher proportion of different movies, but also that there is a tendency towards either max–min or min–max product differentiation.

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  • Elizalde, Javier, 2013. "Competition in multiple characteristics: An empirical test of location equilibrium," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 938-950.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:43:y:2013:i:6:p:938-950
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2013.09.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Aurélie Bonein & Stéphane Turolla, 2023. "Spatial competition with demand uncertainty: A laboratory experiment," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 906-939, October.
    2. Schuetz, Jenny, 2015. "Why are Walmart and Target Next-Door neighbors?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 38-48.
    3. Bernardo, Valeria & Borrell, Joan-Ramon & Perdiguero, Jordi, 2016. "Fast charging stations: Simulating entry and location in a game of strategic interaction," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 293-305.
    4. Firgo, Matthias & Kügler, Agnes, 2018. "Cooperative pricing in spatially differentiated markets," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 51-67.
    5. Jordi McKenzie, 2023. "The economics of movies (revisited): A survey of recent literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 480-525, April.
    6. Pennerstorfer, Dieter, 2017. "Can competition keep the restrooms clean? Price, quality and spatial competition," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 117-136.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Spatial competition; Location; Price; Product differentiation; Multiple dimensions; Equilibrium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • R39 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Other

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