Cournot competition and the social value of information

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Theory
Year: 2015
Volume: 158
Issue: PB
Pages: 466-506

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

In a differentiated-product Cournot model, each supplier receives informative signals about demand. The cross-industry correlations of the signals differ: more public signals have higher correlation coefficients. In equilibrium, information is used inefficiently. From the industry's perspective, information is over-used, and too much emphasis is placed on relatively public signals; from the consumer's perspective, information is under-used, and too much emphasis is placed on relatively private signals. Welfare is enhanced by increasing the use of information (as desired by consumers) but re-balancing that use away from public signals (as desired by the industry). If information is costly and endogenously acquired, then suppliers acquire too much new information, but they use it too little.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jetheo:v:158:y:2015:i:pb:p:466-506
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26