On Monopolistic Competition and Optimal Product Diversity

On Monopolistic Competition and Optimal Product Diversity

Author: Pierre M. Picard

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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In the Dixit-Stiglitz model of monopolistic competition, entry of firms is socially too small. Other authors have shown that excess entry is also a possibility with other preferences for diversity. We show that workers' rents also contribute to explain excess entry through a general equilibrium mechanism. Larger wages indeed raises the aggregate earnings and firms sales and profits, which entices too many firms to enter. We discuss the possibility of over-provision of varieties by comparing the equilibrium to unconstrained and constrained social optima and to other regulatory frameworks where wages are not controlled. (D'après le modèle de concurrence monopolistique de Dixit et Stiglitz, le nombre de firmes présentes sur un marché est socialement trop faible. Plusieurs auteurs ont utilisé d'autres préférences pour montrer qu'il est aussi possible que la concurrence monopolistique mène à un nombre trop important de firmes. Nous utilisons un mécanisme d'équilibre général pour montrer que la présence d'un nombre excessif de firmes peut aussi être causé par la rente que les travailleurs syndiqués peuvent obtenir. Des salaires élevés accroissent les revenus de l'économie dans son ensemble, ce qui accroît les ventes des firmes et donc leurs profits. De la sorte, trop de firmes risquent d'entrer sur ce marché. Nous comparons l'équilibre décentraliséà un optimum social non contraint, à un optimum social contraint et à d'autres cadres de régulation où les salaires ne sont pas contrôlés.).


The Monopolistic Competition Revolution in Retrospect

The Monopolistic Competition Revolution in Retrospect

Author: Steven Brakman

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2001-01-05

Total Pages: 511

ISBN-13: 1139438468

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In 1977 Dixit and Stiglitz revolutionized the modeling of imperfectly competitive markets, launching the second monopolistic competition revolution. This 2003 text includes a comprehensive survey of both monopolistic competition revolutions, and previously unpublished working papers by Dixit and Stiglitz that led to their famous 1977 paper.


A Unified Theory of Value

A Unified Theory of Value

Author: Juan Carlos Cordoba

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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We develop a tractable general equilibrium model of oligopolistic competition that allows for endogenous product differentiation and exhibits various forms of competition, ranging from perfect to monopolistic competition, simultaneously. Our unified framework provides a novel way to integrate industrial organization with other fields, such as macroeconomics and trade. Our key contribution is the introduction of ex-ante heterogeneity, in contrast to the ex-post heterogeneity typically assumed in the literature (Metlitz, 2003). As a result, most firms in our model prefer to engage in face-to-face competition rather than creating their own variety, in contrast to monopolistic models. We characterize the free entry Cournot equilibrium, as well as the efficient and constrained efficient allocations. Our unified approach enables us to generalize existing results, challenge others, and shed new light on several long-standing economic issues, such as the Kaldor-Chamberlin controversy, the competitive effects of trade, and the strengths and weaknesses of monopolistic competitive models.