Astri Muren

Quantity precommitment in an experimental oligopoly market

The paper describes an experiment designed to test if the equilibrium in a market characterized by capacity precommitment followed by price competition, as in the Kreps and Scheinkman model, conforms with the outcome predicted by that model, which is that capacities coincide with Cournot output levels. Sessions were run with capacity precommitment in inexperienced and experienced triopoly markets. The conclusion is that with inexperienced subjects capacity choices are more rivalistic than the model suggests, but in line with those of the Cournot experiments by Fouraker and Siegel. With experienced subjects capacities are quite close to the prediction of the Kreps and Scheinkman model.

Trade costs and the timing of competition policy adoption

This paper first presents stylized evidence showing how the date of the adoption of competition policy is correlated with country size. Smaller countries tend to adopt competition policy later. We then present a theoretical model with countries of different size, trade costs, and firms competing a la Cournot. In the model we show that reduced trade costs following from increasing globalization affect countries differently depending on their size. This has implications for the incentives to introduce competition policy. The predictions of the model are consistent with the empirical regularity presented.

Optimistic Behavior When a Decision Bias is Costly: An Experimental Test

The existence of optimism when biased decisions are costly is investigated experimentally. Subjects make an informed guess about an exogenously determined event: the outside temperature a couple of days later. Payments in the control group depend only on how close the guess was to the realized temperature, while payments in the treatment group also depend positively on realized temperature. The data show the treatment group subjects to guess higher temperatures, that is, higher payments, compared with the control group. Results thus indicate that there is optimism also when a decision bias is costly. (JEL C91, D81, D84)

Trade Costs and the Timing of Competition Policy Adoption (Cots Du Commerce Et Le Moment Choisi Pour Adopter Une Politique De Concurrence)

This paper first presents stylized evidence showing how the date of the adoption of competition policy is correlated with country size. Smaller countries tend to adopt competition policy later. We then present a theoretical model with countries of different size, trade costs, and firms competing a la Cournot. In the model we show that reduced trade costs following from increasing globalization affect countries differently depending on their size. This has implications for the incentives to introduce competition policy. The predictions of the model are consistent with the empirical regularity presented.