Optimal Experimentation in a Changing Environment

R Keller and Sven Rady

Game Theory and Information from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This paper studies optimal experimentation by a monopolist who faces an unknown demand curve subject to random changes, and who maximises profits over an infinite horizon in continuous time. We show that there are two qualitatively very different regimes, determined by the discount rate and the intensities of demand curve switching, and the dependence of the optimal policy on these parameters is discontinuous. One regime is characterised by extreme experimentation and good tracking of the prevailing demand curve, the other by moderate experimentation and poor tracking. Moreover, in the latter regime the agent eventually becomes `trapped' into taking actions in a strict subset of the feasible set.

Keywords: Bayesian Learning; Monopoly Experimentation; Optimal Control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C61 D42 D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 57 pages
Date: 1998-01-20
Note: Type of Document - PDF; pages: 57 ; figures: included
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Optimal Experimentation in a Changing Environment (1999)
Working Paper: Optimal Experimentation in a Changing Environment (1997)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wpa:wuwpga:9801001

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