Network Externalities and the Overprovision of Quality by a Monopolist

C-Tier
Journal: Southern Economic Journal
Year: 2001
Volume: 67
Issue: 4
Pages: 969-982

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We investigate the behavior of a monopolist supplying a vertically differentiated good with network externalities. Assuming a convex unit cost of quality improvements, we show that the presence of network externalities may yield oversupply of quality compared with the social optimum, when partial market coverage emerges at equilibrium. Overall, the incentive to expand output increases in the extent of network externalities, thereby partially counterbalancing the social damage produced by the quality distortion.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:soecon:v:67:y:2001:i:4:p:969-982
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25