Price competition between firms, from the firms’ perspective, can be similar to the prisoners’ dilemma. The best outcome for all firms would be for all to charge a high price. However, if the other firms charge a high price, any individual firm has incentives to charge a low price and steal the market. Additionally, if any other firm chooses a low price, each firm should charge a low price too so that it doesn’t get priced out of the market. Explain how price-matching (firms announcing a policy where they match the lowest price a customer can find or will honor a competitor’s coupon) can help firms avoid the Nash equilibrium in which they all charge a low price. Is it misleading for a firm to advertise price-matching as being beneficial to consumers? (Hint: What outcomes of the game are ruled out by the price-matching policy? How does ruling out these outcomes change the game and the decision the firms face?)
Price competition between firms, from the firms’ perspective, can be similar to the prisoners’ dilemma. The best outcome for all firms would be for all to charge a high price. However, if the other firms charge a high price, any individual firm has incentives to charge a low price and steal the market. Additionally, if any other firm chooses a low price, each firm should charge a low price too so that it doesn’t get priced out of the market. Explain how price-matching (firms announcing a policy where they match the lowest price a customer can find or will honor a competitor’s coupon) can help firms avoid the Nash equilibrium in which they all charge a low price. Is it misleading for a firm to advertise price-matching as being beneficial to consumers? (Hint: What outcomes of the game are ruled out by the price-matching policy? How does ruling out these outcomes change the game and the decision the firms face?)
Survey of Economics (MindTap Course List)
9th Edition
ISBN:9781305260948
Author:Irvin B. Tucker
Publisher:Irvin B. Tucker
Chapter9: Monopolistic Competition And Oligoply
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 20SQ
Related questions
Question
Price competition between firms, from the firms’ perspective, can be similar to the prisoners’ dilemma. The best outcome for all firms would be for all to charge a high price. However, if the other firms charge a high price, any individual firm has incentives to charge a low price and steal the market. Additionally, if any other firm chooses a low price, each firm should charge a low price too so that it doesn’t get priced out of the market. Explain how price-matching (firms announcing a policy where they match the lowest price a customer can find or will honor a competitor’s coupon) can help firms avoid the Nash equilibrium in which they all charge a low price. Is it misleading for a firm to advertise price-matching as being beneficial to consumers? (Hint: What outcomes of the game are ruled out by the price-matching policy? How does ruling out these outcomes change the game and the decision the firms face?)
Expert Solution
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
This is a popular solution!
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Recommended textbooks for you
Survey of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305260948
Author:
Irvin B. Tucker
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Survey of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305260948
Author:
Irvin B. Tucker
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617383
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning