Pure numbers effects, market power, and tacit collusion in posted offer markets

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2009
Volume: 72
Issue: 1
Pages: 475-488

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of seller concentration and static market power on tacit collusion in extensively repeated laboratory posted-offer markets. Contrary to the implications of some earlier research, we find that tacit collusion does not become pervasive with extensive repetition. In a 'strong no-power' design persistently competitive outcomes are observed in markets with three or four sellers. Even duopolies are frequently competitive in this design. Unilateral market power raises prices, as predicted. However, static Nash predictions fail to organize outcomes across power treatments, because tacit collusion moves inversely with concentration. Excess capacity appears to explain observed tacit collusion levels.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:72:y:2009:i:1:p:475-488
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25