Cournot and Stackelberg Equilibria in an Asymmetric Duopoly

Ivan G. Ivanov *

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria and College of Dobrich, Shumen University, Shumen, Bulgaria.

Tonya Mateva

College of Dobrich, Shumen University, Shumen, Bulgaria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aims/Objectives: To study an asymmetric duopoly in gas market where two players produce a homogeneous commodity. One of the players maximizes its profit, while the other- its revenue. The asymmetry also includes a security constraint, saying that the revenue- maximizing player can sell no more than a certain proportion of the quantity of its rival.
Study Design: Interdisciplinary study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Information Technologies, College of Dobrich, Shumen University, Bulgaria, between October 2015 and February 2016.
Methodology: We assume that the industry is duopolistic, the product is homogeneous- natural gas and storage is impossible. We impose a security constraint that one of the players cannot produce more than a certain proportion of its rival's quantity and behaves as a revenue maximizer. Cournot and Stackelberg are compared, with and without security constraint.
Results: Results we have reached can be generalized as follows: There is an continuum of Nash- Cournot equilibria and theconstraint is active under some additional conditions; Stackelberg equilibrium is unique; In both Stackelberg and Cournot model the security constraint punishes player f and rewards player l; Stackelberg game with active security constraint punishes even further player f and the revenue is even lower compared to unconstrained market conditions; As typical to oligopolistic markets price is higher and quantity sold is lower even under imposed security constraint; A special Nash- Cournot equilibrium exists where player f maximizes its revenue. An additional condition should be introduced.
Conclusion: We estimate the constraint's impact on profits, consumer surplus, quantities and price. In addition we offer a special case where one of the player maximizes its revenue and the other earns the highest possible profit.

Keywords: Game theory, gas market, Cournot and Stackelberg equilibria, security constraint


How to Cite

Ivanov, Ivan G., and Tonya Mateva. 2016. “Cournot and Stackelberg Equilibria in an Asymmetric Duopoly”. Journal of Advances in Mathematics and Computer Science 15 (6):1-13. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJMCS/2016/25705.

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