An experimental study of mixed strategy equilibria in simultaneous price-quantity games

Daniel Cracau and Benjamin Franz ()
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Benjamin Franz: Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford

No 120017, FEMM Working Papers from Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management

Abstract: We study oligopoly games with firms competing in prices and quantities at the same time. We systematically compare our experimental results to the theoretical predictions using the mixed strategy equilibria for linear demand functions. For the duopoly game, we observe that the mixed strategy equilibrium predicts average outcomes better than Cournot and Bertrand do. Subjects' price choices are mainly between marginal cost and monopoly level but do not follow the equilibrium distribution. Although average prices and profits are above theoretical values, we do not observe a high level of collusion as expected in the literature. By comparing simulations based on the mixed strategy equilibrium to our experimental outcomes, we conclude that in this game price setting can be explained by strategic reaction to preceding round results. In contrast to the equilibrium prediction, we observe a decrease in prices and negative average profits for the triopoly game.

Keywords: Price-Quantity Competition; Mixed Strategy Equilibria; Experimental Economics; Learning Direction Theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D43 L11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2012-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-com, nep-exp, nep-gth and nep-hpe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mag:wpaper:120017

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