Home Price Versus Quantity Competition in a Vertically Related Market with Retailer’s Effort
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Price Versus Quantity Competition in a Vertically Related Market with Retailer’s Effort

  • Qian Liu and Leonard F. S. Wang EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: October 9, 2020

Abstract

Allowing downstream retailers to engage in demand-enhancing investment, this paper demonstrates that the classical conclusions regarding the comparison of Cournot and Bertrand competition in a vertically related market with decentralized bargaining are completely reversed. It shows that Bertrand competition is more efficient than Cournot competition, in the sense that both consumer surplus and social welfare are always higher in the former.

JEL classification: D43; L13; L14

Corresponding author: Leonard F. S. Wang, Wenlan Chair Professor, Wenlan School of Business, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, 182# Nanhu Avenue, East Lake High-tech Development Zone, Wuhan 430073, China, E-mail:

Funding source: Guangdong Province Soft Science Research Project

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2019A101002056

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the editor, Ronald Peeters and the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful remarks and constructive suggestions. Qian Liu gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Guangdong Province Soft Science Research Project (2019A101002056).

Appendix

We provide more detailed proofs of the propositions in this paper. Note that the following analyses are performed on the basis of Assumption 1, i.e.,  0 < γ < γ , β ( γ ) β < 1 , in which γ 0.641 and

β ( γ ) = 128 γ 4 + 128 γ 5 192 γ 6 176 γ 7 + 56 γ 8 + 40 γ 9 2 γ 11 γ 12 γ 13 256 704 γ 2 64 γ 3 + 576 γ 4 + 128 γ 5 192 γ 6 80 γ 7 + 64 γ 8 + 8 γ 9 6 γ 10 6 γ 11 + 3 γ 12 + 3 γ 13

A-1: Proof of Proposition 1

(A1) p i C p i B = A γ 3 ( 64 + γ ( 32 γ ( 144 + γ ( 40 γ ( 88 γ ( 2 γ ( 6 + 5 γ ( 3 γ ( 3 + γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 2 ( 1 γ ) ( 2 γ 2 ) ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) ( 4 γ ( 2 + γ ( 8 γ ( 2 + 5 γ ) ) ) ) < 0

(A2) q i C q i B = A γ 4 ( 96 + γ ( 112 γ ( 104 + γ ( 152 + γ ( 6 γ ( 46 + γ ( 29 + 5 ( 1 γ ) γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 2 ( 2 γ 2 ) ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) ( 4 γ ( 2 + γ ( 8 γ ( 2 + 5 γ ) ) ) ) < 0

A-2: Proof of Proposition 2

(A3) π R i C π R i B = A 2 ( 1 β ) γ 4 ( 12288 + γ ( 2048 γ ( 72704 + γ ( 14848 γ Δ 1 ) ) ) ) 8 ( 1 γ ) ( 2 γ 2 ) ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2 ( 4 γ ( 2 + γ ( 8 γ ( 2 + 5 γ ) ) ) ) 2 < 0

where Δ 1 = 174080 + γ ( 39680 γ ( 219264 + γ ( 54400 γ ( 156000 + γ ( 41568 γ ( 64096 + γ ( 18528 γ ( 17084 + γ ( 6020 γ ( 4352 + γ ( 2144 γ ( 947 + γ ( 549 10 γ ( 13 + 10 γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) .

A-3: Proof of Proposition 3

(A4) C S C C S B = A 2 γ 4 ( 96 + γ ( 112 γ ( 104 + γ ( 152 + γ ( 6 γ ( 46 + γ ( 29 + 5 ( 1 γ ) γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Δ 2 4 ( 1 γ ) ( 2 γ 2 ) 2 ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2 ( 4 γ ( 2 + γ ( 8 γ ( 2 + 5 γ ) ) ) ) 2 < 0

(A5) S W C S W B = A 2 γ 4 ( 40960 + γ ( 28672 γ ( 212992 + γ ( 160768 γ ( 417792 + γ Δ 3 ) ) ) ) ) 4 ( 1 γ ) ( 2 γ 2 ) 2 ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2 ( 4 γ ( 2 + γ ( 8 γ ( 2 + 5 γ ) ) ) ) 2 < 0

where Δ 2 = 256 γ 2 ( 960 + γ ( 128 γ ( 1248 + γ ( 240 γ ( 672 + γ ( 136 γ ( 114 + γ ( 6 5 γ ( 1 γ γ 2 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , Δ 3 = 335872 γ ( 377216 + γ ( 335872 γ ( 117056 + γ ( 150272 + γ ( 52048 γ ( 2672 + γ ( 46044 + γ ( 20064 γ ( 5676 + γ ( 2740 + γ ( 3445 + γ ( 2276 γ ( 1107 + 5 γ ( 168 γ ( 21 + 20 γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) .

A-4: Proof of Proposition 4

(A6) π R i C N π R i B = A 2 ( 1 β ) γ 3 ( 2048 γ ( 7680 + γ ( 1536 γ ( 25728 γ ( 6528 + γ Δ 4 ) ) ) ) ) 8 ( 1 γ ) ( 4 ( 2 γ ) γ ( 1 + γ ) ( 2 + γ ) ) 2 ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2

where

Δ 4 = 30784 γ ( 7488 + γ ( 17248 γ ( 1184 + γ ( 5872 + γ ( 176 γ ( 1624 + γ ( 88 γ ( 450 + γ ( 70 γ ( 95 + γ ( 29 3 γ ( 3 + γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) .

Combining the parameter range assumed by Assumption 1, we can find that the sigh of above expression mainly depends on the degree of product differentiation, i.e.,

π R i C N π R i B > 0 , when γ > γ ˆ ; π R i C N π R i B < 0 , when γ < γ ˆ ; γ ˆ 0.369.

A-5: Proof of Proposition 5

(A7) C S C N C S B = A 2 γ 2 ( 2 + γ ) 2 ( 8 + γ ( 16 γ ( 4 + γ ( 20 γ ( 10 + γ ( 3 + γ ( ( 3 2 γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Δ 5 4 ( 1 γ ) ( 4 ( 2 γ ) γ ( 1 + γ ) ( 2 + γ ) ) 2 ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2 < 0

(A8) S W C N S W B = A 2 γ 2 ( 2048 + γ ( 6144 γ ( 768 + γ ( 18688 γ ( 14272 + γ ( 22528 γ ( 13824 + γ Δ 6 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 4 ( 1 γ ) ( 4 ( 2 γ ) γ ( 1 + γ ) ( 2 + γ ) ) 2 ( 8 γ ( 4 + 12 γ + 2 γ 3 + γ 4 + γ 5 ) ) 2 < 0

where

Δ 5 = 64 + γ ( 64 + γ ( 136 γ ( 96 + γ ( 68 γ ( 28 γ ( 2 + ( 1 γ ) γ ( 1 + 2 γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , Δ 6 = 15360 + γ ( 976 γ ( 5888 + γ ( 3920 γ ( 232 + γ ( 496 + γ ( 140 + γ ( 315 + γ ( 86 γ ( 93 + 4 γ ( 10 γ ( 2 + γ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) .

References

Alipranti, M., C. Milliou, and E. Petrakis. 2014. “Price vs. Quantity Competition in a Vertically Related Market.” Economics Letters 124: 122–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2014.05.002.Search in Google Scholar

Basak, D., and A. Mukherjee. 2017. “Price vs. Quantity Competition in a Vertically Related Market Revisited.” Economics Letters 153: 12–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2017.01.021.Search in Google Scholar

Basak, D., and L. F. S. Wang. 2016. “Endogenous Choice of Price or Quantity Contract and the Implications of Two-Part-Tariff in a Vertical Structure.” Economics Letters 138: 53–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2015.11.026.Search in Google Scholar

Berto Villa-Boas, S. 2007. “Vertical Relationships Between Manufacturers and Retailers: Inference with Limited Data.” The Review of Economic Studies 74: 625–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-937X.2007.00433.x.Search in Google Scholar

Björnerstedt, J., and J. Stennek. 2007. “Bilateral Oligopoly – The Efficiency of Intermediate Goods Markets.” International Journal of Industrial Organization 25: 884–907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2007.06.001.Search in Google Scholar

Bonanno, G., and B. Haworth. 1998. “Intensity of Competition and the Choice Between Product and Process Innovation.” International Journal of Industrial Organization 16: 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-7187(97)00003-9.Search in Google Scholar

Bonnet, C., and P. Dubois. 2010. “Inference on Vertical Contracts Between Manufacturers and Retailers Allowing for Nonlinear Pricing and Resale Price Maintenance.” The RAND Journal of Economics 41: 139–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-2171.2009.00093.x.Search in Google Scholar

Chirco, A., and M. Scrimitore. 2013. “Choosing Price or Quantity? The Role of Delegation and Network Externalities.” Economics Letters 121: 482–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2013.10.003.Search in Google Scholar

Correa-López, M., and R. A. Naylor. 2004. “The Cournot–Bertrand Profit Differential: A Reversal Result in a Differentiated Duopoly with Wage Bargaining.” European Economic Review 48: 681–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0014-2921(02)00326-4.Search in Google Scholar

Delbono, F., and V. Denicolò. 1990. “R&D Investment in a Symmetric and Homogeneous Oligopoly.” International Journal of Industrial Organization 8: 297–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-7187(90)90022-s.Search in Google Scholar

Economist. 2000. B2B Exchanges: The Container Case, 93–4. The Economist (October 21st).Search in Google Scholar

Gabrielsen, T. S., and B. O. Johansen. 2013. The Opportunism Problem Revisited: The Case of Retailer Sales Effort. Norway: Mimeo. Department of Economics, University of Bergen.Search in Google Scholar

Mukherjee, A. 2011. “Competition, Innovation and Welfare.” The Manchester School 79: 1045–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9957.2010.02184.x.Search in Google Scholar

Mukherjee, A., U. Broll, and S. Mukherjee. 2012. “Bertrand Versus Cournot Competition in a Vertical Structure: A Note.” The Manchester School 80: 545–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9957.2012.02228.x.Search in Google Scholar

Qiu, L. D. 1997. “On the Dynamic Efficiency of Bertrand and Cournot Equilibria.” Journal of Economic Theory 75: 213–29. https://doi.org/10.1006/jeth.1997.2270.Search in Google Scholar

Reynolds, S. S., and R. M. Isaac. 1992. “Stochastic Innovation and Product Market Organization.” Economic Theory 2: 525–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01212475.Search in Google Scholar

Singh, N., and X. Vives. 1984. “Price and Quantity Competition in a Differentiated Duopoly.” The RAND Journal of Economics 15: 546–54. https://doi.org/10.2307/2555525.Search in Google Scholar

Symeonidis, G. 2003. “Comparing Cournot and Bertrand Equilibria in a Differentiated Duopoly with Product R&D.” International Journal of Industrial Organization 21: 39–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-7187(02)00052-8.Search in Google Scholar

Wang, X., and J. Li. 2020. “Downstream Rivals’ Competition, Bargaining, and Welfare.” Journal of Economics 131: 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00712-018-0644-y.Search in Google Scholar

Wirl, F. 2015. “Downstream and Upstream Oligopolies when Retailer’s Effort Matters.” Journal of Economics 116: 99–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00712-015-0443-7.Search in Google Scholar

Yoshida, S. 2018. “Bargaining Power and Firm Profits in Asymmetric Duopoly: An Inverted-U Relationship.” Journal of Economics 124: 139–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00712-017-0563-3.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2020-03-14
Accepted: 2020-09-23
Published Online: 2020-10-09

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 18.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/bejte-2020-0036/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button