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Product Quality, Income Inequality And Market Structure

Author

Listed:
  • Tanmoyee Chatterjee

    (Department of Economics, Shri Shikshayatan College)

  • Ajitava Raychaudhuri

    (Department of Economics, Jadavpur University)

Abstract

This paper analyses the effects of a change in distribution of income on quality choice made by firms producing search goods. It is assumed that willingness to pay for quality of consumers is an increasing function of income. Under the assumption that distribution of income is positively skewed, which is a common characteristic of developing countries, any redistribution of income will induce firms to improve their quality levels in duopoly and monopoly markets if redistribution makes consumers equally or unequally better off. On the other hand, quality levels will deteriorate if poverty is distributed more equally among consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanmoyee Chatterjee & Ajitava Raychaudhuri, 2004. "Product Quality, Income Inequality And Market Structure," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 29(1), pages 51-84, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:jed:journl:v:29:y:2004:i:1:p:51-84
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wauthy, Xavier, 1996. "Quality Choice in Models of Vertical Differentiation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 345-353, September.
    3. Krishna, Kala, 1987. "Tariffs versus quotas with endogenous quality," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1-2), pages 97-112, August.
    4. Motta, Massimo, 1993. "Endogenous Quality Choice: Price vs. Quantity Competition," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 113-131, June.
    5. Kakwani, Nanak C, 1977. "Applications of Lorenz Curves in Economic Analysis," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 45(3), pages 719-727, April.
    6. Boom, Anette, 1995. "Asymmetric International Minimum Quality Standards and Vertical Differentiation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 101-119, March.
    7. Analysis, A Welfare & Das, Satya P. & Donnenfeld, Shabtai, 1987. "Trade policy and its impact on quality of imports," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(1-2), pages 77-95, August.
    8. Avner Shaked & John Sutton, 1982. "Relaxing Price Competition Through Product Differentiation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 49(1), pages 3-13.
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    10. Jaskold Gabszewicz, J. & Thisse, J. -F., 1979. "Price competition, quality and income disparities," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 340-359, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jean J. Gabszewicz & Marco A. Marini & Skerdilajda Zanaj, 2017. "Random Encounters and Information Diffusion about Markets," DEM Discussion Paper Series 17-24, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Product Quality; Income Inequality; Heterogeneous Preferences; Discriminating Monopolist; Two-Stage Duopoly Game;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

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