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Regulating a Monopolist with unknown costs and unknown quality capacity

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  • Blackorby, Charles

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick)

  • Szalay, Dezsö

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick)

Abstract

We study the regulation of a firm with unknown demand and cost information. In contrast to previous studies, we assume demand is influenced by a quality choice, and the firm has private information about its quality capacity in addition to its cost. Under natural conditions, asymmetric information about the quality capacity is irrelevant. The optimal pricing is weakly above marginal costs for all types and no type is excluded.

Suggested Citation

  • Blackorby, Charles & Szalay, Dezsö, 2008. "Regulating a Monopolist with unknown costs and unknown quality capacity," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 858, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:858
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mierendorff, Konrad, 2016. "Optimal dynamic mechanism design with deadlines," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 190-222.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asymmetric Information ; Multi-dimensional Screening ; Regulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm

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