Simple Markov-perfect industry dynamics

Jaap Abbring, Jeffrey Campbell and Nan Yang

No WP-2010-21, Working Paper Series from Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Abstract: This paper develops a tractable model for the computational and empirical analysis of infinite-horizon oligopoly dynamics. It features aggregate demand uncertainty, sunk entry costs, stochastic idiosyncratic technological progress, and irreversible exit. We develop an algorithm for computing a symmetric Markov-perfect equilibrium quickly by finding the fixed points to a finite sequence of low-dimensional contraction mappings. If at most two heterogenous firms serve the industry, the result is the unique \"natural\" equilibrium in which a high profitability firm never exits leaving behind a low profitability competitor. With more than two firms, the algorithm always finds a natural equilibrium. We present a simple rule for checking ex post whether the calculated equilibrium is unique, and we illustrate the model's application by assessing how price collusion impacts consumer and total surplus in a market for a new product that requires costly development. The results confirm Fershtman and Pakes' (2000) finding that collusive pricing can increase consumer surplus by stimulating product development. A distinguishing feature of our analysis is that we are able to assess the results' robustness across hundreds of parameter values in only a few minutes on an off-the-shelf laptop computer.

Keywords: Markov; processes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec and nep-com
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Working Paper: Simple Markov-Perfect Industry Dynamics (2012)
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