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Imitators and Optimizers in a Changing Environment

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  • Burkhard Hehenkamp
  • Oddvar Kaarbøe

Abstract

We analyze the dynamic interaction between imitators and optimizers in a changing world. To this end, we put forward a symmetric duopoly game of strategic substitutes where players interact repeatedly in a world of demand- and cost-uncertainty. If the environment changes every period, the process converges globally to a unique two-period cycle where the optimizer has highest payoff every period. As to the general stochastic case, we characterize the long-run average per-period payoff for the optimizer and the imitator respectively as a function of the environmental switching probabilities. It turns out that the imitator experiences selection pressure for a large range of switching probabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Burkhard Hehenkamp & Oddvar Kaarbøe, 2004. "Imitators and Optimizers in a Changing Environment," Discussion Papers in Economics 02_01, University of Dortmund, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mik:wpaper:02_01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gale, Douglas & Rosenthal, Robert W., 1999. "Experimentation, Imitation, and Stochastic Stability," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 1-40, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Burkhard C. Schipper, 2019. "Dynamic Exploitation of Myopic Best Response," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 1143-1167, December.
    2. Schipper, Burkhard C., 2009. "Imitators and optimizers in Cournot oligopoly," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 1981-1990, December.
    3. Khan, Abhimanyu & Peeters, Ronald, 2015. "Imitation by price and quantity setting firms in a differentiated market," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 28-36.
    4. Fosco, Constanza & Mengel, Friederike, 2011. "Cooperation through imitation and exclusion in networks," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 641-658, May.
    5. Josephson, Jens, 2009. "Stochastic adaptation in finite games played by heterogeneous populations," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1543-1554, August.
    6. Burkhard Schipper & Peter Duersch & Joerg Oechssler, 2011. "Once Beaten, Never Again: Imitation in Two-Player Potential Games," Working Papers 26, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
    7. Matros, Alexander, 2012. "Altruistic versus egoistic behavior in a Public Good game," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 642-656.
    8. Tsakas, Nikolas, 2015. "Beatable imitation in symmetric games with perturbed payoffs," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 34-40.
    9. Schipper, Burkhard C, 2011. "Strategic control of myopic best reply in repeated games," MPRA Paper 30219, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Burkhard Schipper & Peter Duersch & Joerg Oechssler, 2011. "Once Beaten, Never Again: Imitation in Two-Player Potential Games," Working Papers 1112, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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