Bertrand and Walras equilibria under moral hazard

Alberto Bennardo () and Pierre Chiappori

CSEF Working Papers from Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy

Abstract: We consider a simple model of competition under moral hazard with constant return technologies. We consider preferences that are not separable in effort: marginal utility of income is assumed to increase with leisure, especially for high income levels. We show that, in this context, Bertrand competition may result in positive equilibrium profit. This result holds for purely idiosyncratic shocks when only deterministic contracts are considered, and extends to unrestricted contract spaces in the presence of aggregate uncertainty. Finally, these findings have important consequences upon the definition of an equilibrium. We show that, in this context, a Walrasian general equilibrium a la Prescott-Townsend may fail to exist: any 'equilibrium' must involve rationing.

Date: 2002-10-01
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Published in Journal of Political Economy, 2003, vol. 104, pages 785-817

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Related works:
Journal Article: Bertrand and Walras Equilibria under Moral Hazard (2003)
Working Paper: Bertrand and Walras Equilibria Under Moral Hazard (2003)
Working Paper: Bertrand and Walras Equilibria Under Moral Hazard (2002)
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