An evolutionary model of Bertrand oligopoly

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Alós-Ferrer, C; Ania, AB; Schenk-Hoppé, KR
• 署名单位: University of Vienna; University of Zurich
• 刊物名称: GAMES AND ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0899-8256
• DOI: 10.1006/game.1999.0765
• 发表日期: 2000
• 页码: 1-19
• 关键词: evolution; Mutation; imitation; Bertrand oligopoly

摘要

This paper presents an evolutionary model of Bertrand competition in a market for a homogeneous good, where identical firms face a technology with decreasing returns to scale. Only quoted prices and realized profits are observed. The behavior of firms is based on imitation of success and experimentation, and is formally modeled through behavioral principles. We find that, even under simple behavior, the dynamic process selects a strict subset of the Nash equilibria of the underlying game. In the long run all firms make positive profits. Adding more sophistication, we obtain a finer prediction, named central prices. This prediction essentially coincides with the Walrasian equilibrium, if costs are quadratic. Classification Numbers: C72, L13. (C) 2000 Academic Press.