A vertically integrated monopoly is compared to a decentralised market arrangement where production is segmented between a Labour Managed Firm producing an input used by a pro...t maximiser manufacturer of a ...nal good. Surprisingly, in some circumstances the decentralised vertical arrangement is superior to the integrated one. JEL Classi...cation: L12, L13, L 32, P13

The endogenous choice of timing is discussed in a vertically di®erentiated duopoly where quality improvement requires a ̄xed convex cost. The timing decision concerns the quality stage. Using an extended game with observable delay, it is shown that only simultaneous equilibria can arise. This puts into question the ability of Stackelberg games to describe the entry process. J.E.L. classi ̄cation...

Standard pricing theories consider consumers without temptation. With temptation and costly self-control, consumers dislike choice sets with tempting alternatives. We study firms’ strategy against such consumers, using Gul–Pesendorfer preferences and a game where firms compete by offering menus. JEL Classification: D43, L13, L15

We introduce a small cost of leading in the two-player action commitment game formulated by Hamilton and Slutsky (1990). We investigate a price competition model and find that any randomized strategy equilibria converge to the Bertrand equilibrium. JEL classification numbers: L13, C72

This paper analyzes price elasticities in the Austrian market for mobile telecommunications services using data on firm specific tariffs. Both static and a dynamic panel data approaches lead to consistent results which provide evidence for a relatively elastic demand. Furthermore, some basic facts on the Austrian mobile telephone sector are presented. JEL-Classification: C23, L13, L96.

Using a two-period duopoly model with vertical differentiation, we show that there exists a unique subgame perfect equilibrium where the first entrant supplies a lower quality and gains higher profits than the second entrant. We also prove that this entry sequence is also socially efficient. JEL Classification: C73, D43, L13

When identical firms pay a fee to list prices at a price comparison site and can price discriminate between consumers who do and don’t use the site, prices listed at the site are dispersed but lower than at firms’ own websites. (JEL Numbers: D4, D8, M3, L13.

This paper studies the effects of increasing the number of sellers on Quantal Response Equilibrium (QRE) prices in homogeneous product Bertrand oligopoly markets. We show that the two most commonly used choice functions (power and logistic) lead to qualitatively different comparative-static predictions with respect to the relationship between number of firms and prices. JEL Numbers: C73, D83, L13

Vega-Redondo (1997) showed that imitation leads to the Walrasian outcome in Cournot Oligopoly. We generalize his result to aggregative quasi-submodular games. Examples are the Cournot Oligopoly, Bertrand games with differentiated complementary products, CommonPool Resource games, Rent-Seeking games and generalized Nash-Demand games. JEL-Classifications: C72, D21, D43, L13.

This paper studies competition between firms when consumers observe a private signal of their preferences over products. Within the class structures that induce pure-strategy pricing equilibria, we derive are optimal for and those consumers. The firm-optimal policy amplifies underlying product differentiation, thereby relaxing competition, while ensuring purchase preferred product, maximizing t...