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Monopolistic Competition vs Oligopoly in the "Large Economy": How Much Is Difference?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhelobodko, E.

    (NRU-HSE, Moscow, Russia
    IM SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
    NSU, Novosibirsk, Russia)

  • Sidorov, A.

    (NRU-HSE, Moscow, Russia
    IM SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
    NSU, Novosibirsk, Russia)

  • Thisse, J.-F.

    (NRU-Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia Author-Workplace-Name: CORE Universite catholique de Louvain, Belgium)

Abstract

The paper studies a market of horizontally differentiated good under increasing return to scale and exogenous number of firms. Three concepts of equilibria are compared: Cournot, Bertrand and monopolistic competition. Under fairly general assumptions on consumer's preferences, it is shown that Lerner index is the highest in Cournot case, monopolistic competition provides the lowest one and Bertrand equilibrium takes intermediate position. When the number of firms N increases, both oligopolistic equilibria converge to monopolistic competitive equilibrium with rate 1/ N . Thus the study generalizes the similar results on markets of homogeneous goods.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhelobodko, E. & Sidorov, A. & Thisse, J.-F., 2013. "Monopolistic Competition vs Oligopoly in the "Large Economy": How Much Is Difference?," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 19(3), pages 10-26.
    • Handle: RePEc:nea:journl:y:2013:i:19:p:10-26
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Evgeny Zhelobodko & Sergey Kokovin & Mathieu Parenti & Jacques‐François Thisse, 2012. "Monopolistic Competition: Beyond the Constant Elasticity of Substitution," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(6), pages 2765-2784, November.
    2. William Novshek, 1980. "Cournot Equilibrium with Free Entry," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 47(3), pages 473-486.
    3. Evgeny Zhelobodko & Sergey Kokovin & Mathieu Parenti & Jacques-François Thisse, 2011. "Monopolistic competition in general equilibrium: Beyond the CES," PSE Working Papers halshs-00566431, HAL.
    4. Amir, Rabah & Jin, Jim Y., 2001. "Cournot and Bertrand equilibria compared: substitutability, complementarity and concavity," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 19(3-4), pages 303-317, March.
    5. R. J. Ruffin, 1971. "Cournot Oligopoly and Competitive Behaviour," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 38(4), pages 493-502.
    6. Novshek, William & Chowdhury, Prabal Roy, 2003. "Bertrand equilibria with entry: limit results," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 795-808, June.
    7. Koji Okuguchi, 1973. "Quasi-Competitiveness and Cournot Oligopoly," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 40(1), pages 145-148.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    monopolistic competition; oligopoly; differentiated goods; market power; Lerner index;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D41 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Perfect Competition
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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