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Private And Social Incentives Towards Investment In Product Differentiation

Author

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  • ROBERTO CELLINI

    (Department of Economics, University of Catania, Corso Italia 55, 95129 Catania, Italy)

  • LUCA LAMBERTINI

    (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, Strada Maggiore 45, 40125 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

We consider a dynamic oligopoly where firms invest to increase product differentiation and an externality effect operates in the R&D activity. We compare the steady state solutions under alternative decision rules, namely, the open-loop and the closed-loop Nash equilibrium. Significant differences emerge, concerning the effect of the number of firms upon the optimal degree of product differentiation. We also compare the private optima with the social optimum, and derive implications concerning the social desirability of different decision rules.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Cellini & Luca Lambertini, 2004. "Private And Social Incentives Towards Investment In Product Differentiation," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(04), pages 493-508.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:igtrxx:v:06:y:2004:i:04:n:s0219198904000320
    DOI: 10.1142/S0219198904000320
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    Cited by:

    1. De Giovanni, Pietro & Zaccour, Georges, 2023. "A survey of dynamic models of product quality," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 307(3), pages 991-1007.
    2. R. Cellini & L. Lambertini, 2005. "R&D Incentives and Market Structure: Dynamic Analysis," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 85-96, July.
    3. Guido Candela & Roberto Cellini, 2006. "Investment in Tourism Market: A Dynamic Model of Differentiated Oligopoly," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 35(1), pages 41-58, September.
    4. Luca Lambertini, 2009. "Optimal Product Proliferation in Monopoly: A Dynamic Analysis," Review of Economic Analysis, Digital Initiatives at the University of Waterloo Library, vol. 1(1), pages 80-97, September.
    5. Luca Lambertini & Andrea Mantovani, 2010. "Process and product innovation: A differential game approach to product life cycle," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 6(2), pages 227-252, June.
    6. Steffen Jørgensen & Georges Zaccour, 2007. "Developments in differential game theory and numerical methods: economic and management applications," Computational Management Science, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 159-181, April.
    7. Roberto Cellini & Luca Lambertini, 2011. "R&D Incentives Under Bertrand Competition: A Differential Game," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 62(3), pages 387-400, September.
    8. Lambertini, Luca & Mantovani, Andrea, 2009. "Process and product innovation by a multiproduct monopolist: A dynamic approach," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 508-518, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Differential games; research and development; product differentiation; spillovers; JEL Classification Code: C73; JEL Classification Code: L13; JEL Classification Code: O31;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology
    • C0 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General
    • C6 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling
    • C7 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory
    • D5 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium
    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • M2 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics

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