The Cournot Model

45
Lectures in Microeconomics-Charles W. Upton The Cournot Model A ’s Output B’s Output A ’s Reaction Function B’s Reaction Function 45 45 90 90

Transcript of The Cournot Model

Page 1: The Cournot Model

Lectures in Microeconomics-Charles W. Upton

The Cournot ModelA’s Output

B’s Output

A’s Reaction Function

B’s Reaction Function

45

45

90

90

Page 2: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Assumptions

• Two firms A, and B produce widgets

Page 3: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Assumptions

• Two firms A, and B produce widgets

• The industry demand function is D

D

P

Q

Page 4: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Assumptions

• Two firms A, and B produce widgets

• The industry demand function is D

• Firm A produces qA; firm B produces qB

D

P

Q

Page 5: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Assumptions

• Two firms A, and B produce widgets

• The industry demand function is D

• Firm A produces qA; firm B produces qB

• Firm A takes its demand function as D -qB

D

P

Q

qb

Da

Page 6: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Assumptions

• Two firms A, and B produce widgets

• The industry demand function is D

• Firm A produces qA; firm B produces qB

• Firm A takes its demand function as D -qB

D

P

Q

qb

Da

An important assumption, the heart of the Cournot model.

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The Cournot Model

Solving A’s problem   

DDa

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The Cournot Model

Solving A’s problem   

DDa

MCMR

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The Cournot Model

Solving A’s problem   

DDa

MCMR

qa*

p*

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The Cournot Model

Symmetry

• Just as Firm A is choosing qA to maximize profits, so too is Firm B choosing qB to maximize profits.

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The Cournot Model

Symmetry

• Just as Firm A is choosing qA to maximize profits, so too is Firm B choosing qB to maximize profits.

• If B changes its output, A will react by changing its output.

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

• We do the mathematical approach first and then the graphical approach.

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

• The industry demand function

Q = 100 – 2p.

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

• The industry demand function Q = 100 – 2p.

• The inverse demand function isP = 50 – (1/2)Q

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

• The industry demand function Q = 100 – 2p.

• The inverse demand function isP = 50 – (1/2)Q

• A’s demand function is thenP = 50 –(1/2)(qA+qB)

Page 16: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

A’s demand function is thenP = 50 –(1/2)(qA +qB)

• The firm’s profits are = PqA – 5qA

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

A’s demand function is thenP = 50 –(1/2)(qA +qB)

• The firm’s profits are = [50 –(1/2)(qA +qB)]qA – 5qA

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

= [50 –(1/2)(qA + qB)]qA – 5qA

Page 19: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

= [50 –(1/2)(qA + qB)]qA – 5qA

= 50 qA–(1/2) qA 2– (1/2)qBqA – 5qA

Page 20: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

= [50 –(1/2)(qA + qB)]qA – 5qA

= 50 qA–(1/2) qA 2– (1/2)qBqA – 5qA

= 45qA –(1/2)qA2 – (1/2)qBqA

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

baaa qqqq21

2145 2

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

baa

baaa

qqdqd

qqqq

2145

21

2145 2

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The Cournot Model

A Reaction Function

ba

baa

qq

qqdqd

2145

02145

Page 24: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Symmetry

•There is a similar reaction function for B

qB = 45 – (1/2)qA

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

Page 25: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Solving for A’s Output

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

qB = 45 – (1/2)qA

qA = 45 – (1/2)[45 – (1/2)qA]

Page 26: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Solving for A’s Output

qA = 45 – (1/2)[45 – (1/2)qA]qA = 22.5 + (1/4)qA

Page 27: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Solving for A’s Output

qA = 45 – (1/2)[45 – (1/2)qA]qA = 22.5 + (1/4)qA

(3/4)qA = 22.5

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The Cournot Model

Solving for A’s Output

qA = 45 – (1/2)[45 – (1/2)qA]qA = 22.5 + (1/4)qA

(3/4)qA = 22.5qA = (4/3)22.5

Page 29: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Solving for A’s Output

qA = 45 – (1/2)[45 – (1/2)qA]qA = 22.5 + (1/4)qA

(3/4)qA = 22.5qA = (4/3)22.5

qA = 30qB = 30

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The Cournot Model

A Graphical Approach

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

• We want to use the reaction function to come to a graphical solution,

Page 31: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Graphical Approach

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

• When B produces nothing A should react by producing the monopoly output (45).

Page 32: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Graphical Approach

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

• When B produces nothing A should react by producing the monopoly output (45).

• When B produces the output of the competitive industry (90), A should react by producing nothing.

Page 33: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

A Graphical Approach

qA = 45 – (1/2)qB

• When B produces nothing A should react by producing the monopoly output (45).

• When B produces the output of the competitive industry (90), A should react by producing nothing.

• Similar rules apply for B’s reactions.

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

If B produces the competitive

output, A produces nothing.

If B produces

nothing, A acts like a monopoly45

90

900

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

A’s Reaction Function

45

90

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

A’s Reaction Function

If A produces the competitive output, B produces nothing.

If A produces nothing, B acts like

a monopoly.45

45

90

90

Page 38: The Cournot Model

The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

A’s Reaction Function

B’s Reaction Function

45

45

90

90

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

If A and B are off their reaction functions, they react and change output. Here B expands, A contracts.

90

45

9045

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

If A is here, B wants to

be here

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The Cournot Model

Graphing the Reaction FunctionA’s Output

B’s Output

If B is here, A wants to

be here

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The Cournot Model

EquilibriumA’s Output

B’s Output

A’s Reaction Function

B’s Reaction Function

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The Cournot Model

The Basic Steps

• Plot the reaction functions– If B produces nothing, A behaves like a

monopoly– If B produces competitive output, A produces

nothing• Solve for their intersection

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The Cournot Model

End

©2003 Charles W. Upton