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A Reexamination of the Coase Theorem

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  • Jingang Zhao

    (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)

Abstract

This paper makes three advances: 1) It fixes the empty-core problem of the Coase theorem; 2) it provides the smallest upper bound of transaction costs below which the optimal or efficient outcomes can be achieved; and 3) it establishes two mathematical theorems that capture the main insights and major aspects of the Coase theorem. A simpler version of the theorems says that in a coalitional production economy without transaction costs, the maximal payoff will be produced by the optimal firms and be allocated in the always non-empty core.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingang Zhao, 2018. "A Reexamination of the Coase Theorem," The Journal of Mechanism and Institution Design, Society for the Promotion of Mechanism and Institution Design, University of York, vol. 3(1), pages 111-132, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:jmi:articl:jmi-v3i1a5
    DOI: 10.22574/jmid.2018.12.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sun, Ning & Trockel, Walter & Yang, Zaifu, 2008. "Competitive outcomes and endogenous coalition formation in an n-person game," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(7-8), pages 853-860, July.
    2. Stéphane Gonzalez & Alain Marciano & Philippe Solal, 2019. "The social cost problem, rights, and the (non)empty core," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 21(2), pages 347-365, April.
    3. Jingang Zhao, 2001. "The relative interior of the base polyhedron and the core," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 18(3), pages 635-648.
    4. Varouj Aivazian & Jeffrey Callen, 2003. "The Core, Transaction Costs, and the Coase Theorem," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 287-299, December.
    5. R. H. Coase, 2013. "The Problem of Social Cost," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 56(4), pages 837-877.
    6. Lloyd S. Shapley, 1967. "On balanced sets and cores," Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 453-460.
    7. Regan, Donald H, 1972. "The Problem of Social Cost Revisited," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(2), pages 427-437, October.
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    9. Herbert E. Scarf, 1967. "The Approximation of Fixed Points of a Continuous Mapping," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 216R, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
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    11. Coase, R H, 1981. "The Coase Theorem and the Empty Core: A Comment," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(1), pages 183-187, April.
    12. Zhao, Jingang, 2018. "Three little-known and yet still significant contributions of Lloyd Shapley," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 592-599.
    13. Aivazian, Varouj A & Callen, Jeffrey L, 1981. "The Coase Theorem and the Empty Core," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 24(1), pages 175-181, April.
    14. Juan C. Cesco, 2012. "Nonempty Core-Type Solutions Over Balanced Coalitions In Tu-Games," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(03), pages 1-16.
    15. Zhou Lin, 1994. "A New Bargaining Set of an N-Person Game and Endogenous Coalition Formation," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 6(3), pages 512-526, May.
    16. Jingang Zhao, 2009. "Estimating Merging Costs by Merger Preconditions," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 66(4), pages 373-399, April.
    17. Takayuki Watanabe & Nobuo Matsubayashi, 2013. "Note on Stable Mergers in a Market with Asymmetric Substitutability," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(3), pages 2024-2033.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Aslan, Fatma & Duman, Papatya & Trockel, Walter, 2019. "Duality for General TU-games Redefined," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 620, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
    2. Techer, Kevin, 2021. "Stable agreements through liability rules: A multi-choice game approach to the social cost problem," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 77-88.
    3. Kevin Techer, 2020. "Stable agreements through liability rules: a multi-choice games approach to the social cost problem," Working Papers 2028, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    4. Aivazian, Varouj A. & Callen, Jeffrey L., 2023. "The Coase Theorem and the empty core: Inspecting the entrails after four decades," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    5. Kevin Techer, 2020. "Stable agreements through liability rules: a multi- choice games approach to the social cost problem," Working Papers halshs-02939246, HAL.
    6. Meramveliotakis, Giorgos, 2023. "Reciprocity principle and private property rights in land: Coasean world is neither neoclassical nor capitalist," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Coalition formation; core; optimal firms.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C71 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Cooperative Games
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production

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