IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/regeco/v84y2020ics0166046220302532.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Equilibrium existence in the Hotelling model with convex production costs

Author

Listed:
  • Dragone, Davide
  • Lambertini, Luca

Abstract

We revisit the spatial duopoly model à la Hotelling (1929), to show that, provided the parameter scaling marginal cost is sufficiently high, quadratic production costs guarantee equilibrium existence in presence of linear transportation costs and a uniform distribution, with minimum product differentiation and no undercutting. We also discuss the conditions under which partial coverage arises. Finally, we extend the duopoly game to generalise the condition for the existence of the pure-strategy equilibrium to a class of convex production cost functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Dragone, Davide & Lambertini, Luca, 2020. "Equilibrium existence in the Hotelling model with convex production costs," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:84:y:2020:i:c:s0166046220302532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103568
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166046220302532
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103568?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Baye, Michael R. & Morgan, John, 1999. "A folk theorem for one-shot Bertrand games," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 59-65, October.
    2. Alessandra Chirco & Luca Lambertini & Fabio Zagonari, 2003. "How demand affects optimal prices and product differentiation," Papers in Regional Science, Springer;Regional Science Association International, vol. 82(4), pages 555-568, November.
    3. Todd R. Kaplan & David Wettstein, 2000. "The possibility of mixed-strategy equilibria with constant-returns-to-scale technology under Bertrand competition," Spanish Economic Review, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 2(1), pages 65-71.
    4. Steven C. Salop, 1979. "Monopolistic Competition with Outside Goods," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 10(1), pages 141-156, Spring.
    5. Partha Dasgupta & Eric Maskin, 1986. "The Existence of Equilibrium in Discontinuous Economic Games, I: Theory," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 53(1), pages 1-26.
    6. Cremer, Helmuth & Marchand, Maurice & Thisse, Jacques-Francois, 1991. "Mixed oligopoly with differentiated products," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 43-53, March.
    7. Dimitrios Xefteris, 2013. "Hotelling was Right," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(4), pages 706-712, December.
    8. Martin J. Beckmann, 1972. "Spatial Cournot Oligopoly," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 37-48, January.
    9. Caplin, Andrew & Nalebuff, Barry, 1991. "Aggregation and Imperfect Competition: On the Existence of Equilibrium," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 59(1), pages 25-59, January.
    10. Economides, Nicholas, 1989. "Symmetric equilibrium existence and optimality in differentiated product markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 178-194, February.
    11. Economides, Nicholas, 1984. "The principle of minimum differentiation revisited," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 345-368, April.
    12. S. T. Boris Choy & Adrian F. M. Smith, 1997. "On Robust Analysis of a Normal Location Parameter," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 59(2), pages 463-474.
    13. repec:bla:scandj:v:99:y:1997:i:2:p:241-59 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Steffen Brenner, 2005. "Hotelling Games with Three, Four, and More Players," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(4), pages 851-864, November.
    15. Michael Hoel, 1997. "Environmental Policy with Endogenous Plant Locations," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(2), pages 241-259, June.
    16. Partha Dasgupta & Eric Maskin, 1986. "The Existence of Equilibrium in Discontinuous Economic Games, II: Applications," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 53(1), pages 27-41.
    17. Economides, Nicholas, 1986. "Minimal and maximal product differentiation in Hotelling's duopoly," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 67-71.
    18. Anderson, Simon P. & Goeree, Jacob K. & Ramer, Roald, 1997. "Location, Location, Location," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 102-127, November.
    19. Hinloopen, Jeroen & van Marrewijk, Charles, 1999. "On the limits and possibilities of the principle of minimum differentiation1," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 735-750, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Takanori Ago, 2023. "Utility function and location in the Hotelling game," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Cui, Liyuan & Chen, Zeyu & Huang, Yanfen & Yu, Huayi, 2024. "Window dressing: Changes in atmospheric pollution at boundaries in response to regional environmental policy in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Takahara, Tsuyoshi, 2022. "Quality competition, location choice, and ownership conversion in the healthcare market," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    4. Fournier, Gaëtan & Francou, Amaury, 2023. "Location games with references," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 17-32.
    5. Pedro Pita Barros, 2022. "Quality decreases from introducing patient choice in a National Health Service," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 21(3), pages 351-381, September.
    6. John S. Heywood & Dongyang Li & Guangliang Ye, 2022. "Mixed duopoly under hotelling with convex production costs," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 487-510, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. John S. Heywood & Dongyang Li & Guangliang Ye, 2022. "Mixed duopoly under hotelling with convex production costs," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 487-510, October.
    2. Drezner, Zvi & Eiselt, H.A., 2024. "Competitive location models: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 316(1), pages 5-18.
    3. Heijnen, Pim & Soetevent, Adriaan R., 2018. "Price competition on graphs," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 161-179.
    4. Krol Michal, 2011. "On the Existence and Social Optimality of Equilibria in a Hotelling Game with Uncertain Demand and Linear-Quadratic Costs," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, March.
    5. 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.
    6. Ansari, A. & Economides, N. & Steckel, J., 1996. "The Max-Min-Min Principle of product Differentiation," Working Papers 96-10, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    7. Fleckinger, Pierre & Lafay, Thierry, 2010. "Product flexibility and price competition in Hotelling's duopoly," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 61-68, July.
    8. Hong Feng & Jie Ma, 2018. "Location choices and third‐degree spatial price discrimination," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 65(2), pages 142-153, May.
    9. Yasuhiro Shirata, 2020. "Evolution of a Collusive Price in a Networked Market," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 528-554, June.
    10. Ralph Braid, 2013. "The locations of firms on intersecting roadways," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(3), pages 791-808, June.
    11. Eveline Leeuwen & Mark Lijesen, 2016. "Agents playing Hotelling’s game: an agent-based approach to a game theoretic model," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 57(2), pages 393-411, November.
    12. Nicholas Economides & Joel Steckel, "undated". "The Max-Min Principle of Product Differentiation," Networks, Compatibility 94-16, Economics of Networks.
    13. Guo, Wen-Chung & Lai, Fu-Chuan & Suen, Wing, 2018. "Downs meets d’Aspremont and company: Convergence versus differentiation in politics and the media," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 96-125.
    14. Luca Lambertini & Raimondello Orsini, 2013. "On Hotelling's ‘stability in competition’ with network externalities and switching costs," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 92(4), pages 873-883, November.
    15. Fleckinger, Pierre & Lafay, Thierry, 2010. "Product flexibility and price competition in Hotelling's duopoly," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 61-68, July.
    16. Becchetti, Leonardo & Palestini, Arsen & Solferino, Nazaria & Elisabetta Tessitore, M., 2014. "The socially responsible choice in a duopolistic market: A dynamic model of “ethical product” differentiation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 114-123.
    17. Ralph Braid, 2014. "The socially optimal and equilibrium locations of two stores or libraries with consumer search," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 53(1), pages 123-136, August.
    18. Zhou, Yanju & Che, Yuan, 2021. "Research on Government Logistics Subsidies for Poverty Alleviation with Non-uniform Distribution of Consumers," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    19. Ralph M. Braid, 2016. "Potential merger-forcing entry reduces maximum spacing between firms in spatial competition," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(3), pages 653-669, August.
    20. Auer, Raphael A. & Sauré, Philip, 2017. "Dynamic entry in vertically differentiated markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 177-205.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Horizontal differentiation; Spatial competition; Price competition; Equilibrium existence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:84:y:2020:i:c:s0166046220302532. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/regec .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.