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Price Dispersion and Learning in a Dynamic Differentiated-Goods Duopoly

Author

Listed:
  • Keller, Godfrey
  • Rady, Sven

Abstract

We study price-setting duopolists who are uncertain about the degree to which their products are perceived as differentiated. Customers' sensitivity to price differences varies over time and must be estimated from the quantities sold. The information content of these quantities increases with the price difference, so there is scope for active learning. In equilibrium, price dispersion arises in a cyclical fashion, and is most likely to be observed when customers' sensitivity to price differences is moderately variable over time. The duopolists can increase profits by using correlated pricing strategies. Such coordination need not hurt consumers, provided they are sufficiently impatient. Copyright 2003 by the RAND Corporation.

Suggested Citation

  • Keller, Godfrey & Rady, Sven, 2003. "Price Dispersion and Learning in a Dynamic Differentiated-Goods Duopoly," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 34(1), pages 138-165, Spring.
    • Handle: RePEc:rje:randje:v:34:y:2003:i:1:p:138-65
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    Cited by:

    1. Bonatti, Alessandro & Hörner, Johannes, 2017. "Learning to disagree in a game of experimentation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 234-269.
    2. Martin Peitz & Sven Rady & Piers Trepper, 2017. "Experimentation in Two-Sided Markets," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 128-172.
    3. Ruiz-Aliseda, Francisco, 2009. "Misinformative advertising," IESE Research Papers D/809, IESE Business School.
    4. Godfrey Keller & Sven Rady & Martin Cripps, 2005. "Strategic Experimentation with Exponential Bandits," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 73(1), pages 39-68, January.
    5. Keller, Godfrey & Rady, Sven, 2020. "Undiscounted bandit games," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 43-61.
    6. N. Bora Keskin & John R. Birge, 2019. "Dynamic Selling Mechanisms for Product Differentiation and Learning," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 67(4), pages 1069-1089, July.
    7. repec:hum:wpaper:sfb649dp2016-048 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Keller, Godfrey & Rady, Sven, 2015. "Breakdowns," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 10(1), January.
    9. Moscarini, Giuseppe & Squintani, Francesco, 2010. "Competitive experimentation with private information: The survivor's curse," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 639-660, March.
    10. Ruben Geer & Arnoud V. Boer & Christopher Bayliss & Christine S. M. Currie & Andria Ellina & Malte Esders & Alwin Haensel & Xiao Lei & Kyle D. S. Maclean & Antonio Martinez-Sykora & Asbjørn Nilsen Ris, 2019. "Dynamic pricing and learning with competition: insights from the dynamic pricing challenge at the 2017 INFORMS RM & pricing conference," Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(3), pages 185-203, June.
    11. Dan Bernhardt & Bart Taub, 2015. "Learning about common and private values in oligopoly," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 46(1), pages 66-85, March.
    12. Dirk Bergemann & Juuso Valimaki, 2004. "Monopoly Pricing of Experience Goods," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 1463R, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University, revised May 2005.
    13. Vasama, Suvi, 2016. "Unraveling of cooperation in dynamic collaboration," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2016-048, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
    14. Ching-jen Sun, 2017. "Dynamic price dispersion in Bertrand–Edgeworth competition," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 46(1), pages 235-261, March.
    15. Ruben van de Geer & Arnoud V. den Boer & Christopher Bayliss & Christine Currie & Andria Ellina & Malte Esders & Alwin Haensel & Xiao Lei & Kyle D. S. Maclean & Antonio Martinez-Sykora & Asbj{o}rn Nil, 2018. "Dynamic Pricing and Learning with Competition: Insights from the Dynamic Pricing Challenge at the 2017 INFORMS RM & Pricing Conference," Papers 1804.03219, arXiv.org.
    16. Miguel Angel Ropero, 2019. "Pricing Policies in a Market With Asymmetric Information and Non-Bayesian Firms," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 20(2), pages 541-563, November.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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