nous products. In many markets, products produced by competing firms are not perfect but imperfect substitutes. We consider such a case here. There are in total N firms, each producing a unique variety which are imperfect substitutes to each other. Since they are different, each variety i with i=1,2,..., N, has a price p₁. Let the symmetric inverse demand of each variety be Pi(gi, Q-i) = abgi – oQ-is where Q = 9; is the total output produced by all firms other than firm i. Parameters a, b, and o are all strictly positive. The parameter a is the price when no firms supply to the market. The parameter b measures how sensitive p; is to a change of firm i's own supply, while o measures such sensitivity to other firms' total supply. Notice that in a Cournot model, we would have b = o. An assumption o [-b/(N-1), b] is imposed to ensure the problem is well-defined (this assumption is only for completeness of the problem and is irrelevant for your derivation). Each firm has a constant marginal cost c> 0. We assume that firms compete by choosing quantities, just like in a standard Cournot model with homogenous products. d. e. f. g. Find the symmetric equilibrium price p* for each variety. How does q* change when N increases? Explain why. How does q* change when o increases? Explain why. Suppose o is instead of a negative value. How does q* change when N increases? Explain why.

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
14th Edition
ISBN:9780190931919
Author:NEWNAN
Publisher:NEWNAN
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1QTC
icon
Related questions
Question
Our discussion of Cournot in the lecture focused on the case with homoge-
nous products. In many markets, products produced by competing firms
are not perfect but imperfect substitutes. We consider such a case here.
There are in total N firms, each producing a unique variety which are
imperfect substitutes to each other. Since they are different, each variety
i with i = 1, 2, ..., N, has a price pi. Let the symmetric inverse demand of
each variety be
Pi(gi, Q-i) = a - bqi - oQ-i,
-i
where Q_₁ = [q; is the total output produced by all firms other than firm
i. Parameters a, b, and o are all strictly positive. The parameter a is the
price when no firms supply to the market. The parameter b measures how
sensitive p; is to a change of firm i's own supply, while o measures such
sensitivity to other firms' total supply. Notice that in a Cournot model, we
would have b = o. An assumption o € [-b/(N-1), b] is imposed to ensure
the problem is well-defined (this assumption is only for completeness of the
problem and is irrelevant for your derivation).
Each firm has a constant marginal cost c> 0. We assume that firms
compete by choosing quantities, just like in a standard Cournot model with
homogenous products.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Find the symmetric equilibrium price p* for each variety.
How does q* change when N increases? Explain why.
How does q* change when o increases? Explain why.
Suppose o is instead of a negative value. How does q* change
when N increases? Explain why.
Transcribed Image Text:Our discussion of Cournot in the lecture focused on the case with homoge- nous products. In many markets, products produced by competing firms are not perfect but imperfect substitutes. We consider such a case here. There are in total N firms, each producing a unique variety which are imperfect substitutes to each other. Since they are different, each variety i with i = 1, 2, ..., N, has a price pi. Let the symmetric inverse demand of each variety be Pi(gi, Q-i) = a - bqi - oQ-i, -i where Q_₁ = [q; is the total output produced by all firms other than firm i. Parameters a, b, and o are all strictly positive. The parameter a is the price when no firms supply to the market. The parameter b measures how sensitive p; is to a change of firm i's own supply, while o measures such sensitivity to other firms' total supply. Notice that in a Cournot model, we would have b = o. An assumption o € [-b/(N-1), b] is imposed to ensure the problem is well-defined (this assumption is only for completeness of the problem and is irrelevant for your derivation). Each firm has a constant marginal cost c> 0. We assume that firms compete by choosing quantities, just like in a standard Cournot model with homogenous products. d. e. f. g. Find the symmetric equilibrium price p* for each variety. How does q* change when N increases? Explain why. How does q* change when o increases? Explain why. Suppose o is instead of a negative value. How does q* change when N increases? Explain why.
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 8 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Demand and Supply Curves
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Economics
ISBN:
9780190931919
Author:
NEWNAN
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Principles of Economics (12th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134078779
Author:
Karl E. Case, Ray C. Fair, Sharon E. Oster
Publisher:
PEARSON
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Engineering Economy (17th Edition)
Economics
ISBN:
9780134870069
Author:
William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling
Publisher:
PEARSON
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach
Economics
ISBN:
9781337106665
Author:
Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Managerial Economics & Business Strategy (Mcgraw-…
Economics
ISBN:
9781259290619
Author:
Michael Baye, Jeff Prince
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education