We give an efficient algorithm for computing a Cournot equilibrium when the producers are confined to integers, the inverse demand function is linear, and costs are quadratic. The method also establishes existence constructively. We use our characterization to discuss the multiplicity of integer Cournot equilibria and their relationship to the real Cournot equilibrium.

We embed signaling in the classical Cournot model in which several firms sell a homogeneous good. The quality is known to all the firms, but only to some buyers. The quantity-setting firms can manipulate the price to signal quality. Because there is only one price in a market for a homogeneous good, each firm incompletely controls the price-signal through the quantity decision. We characterize ...

We study the solution concepts of partial cooperative Cournot-Nash equilibria and partial cooperative Stackelberg equilibria. The partial cooperative Cournot-Nash equilibrium is axiomatically characterized by using notions of rationality, consistency and converse consistency with regard to reduced games. We also establish sufficient conditions for which partial cooperative Cournot-Nash equilibr...

We revisit the classic comparison between Bertrand and Cournot outcomes in a mixed market with private and public firms. A departure from the standard setting, i.e., one where all firms maximize profits, provides new insights. A welfare-maximizing public firm’s price is strictly lower while its output is strictly higher in Cournot competition. And whereas the private firm’s quantity is strictly...

The paper considers an imitation dynamic in the context of Cournot oligopoly. The pure ”imitate-the-best” behavior can lead to an outcome inconsistent with Cournot-Nash equilibrium. The paper extends purely imitative behavior to imperfect imitation in the two-stage model with capacities and prices. This variation in the imitative behavior improves efficiency and makes the Cournot-Nash equilibri...

This paper provides a proof of a condition for uniqueness of Cournot equilibrium. Existing proofs of the same condition have shown it to imply a unique element within a limited class of Cournot equilibria, but leave open the possibility of other purestrategy equilibria outside this class. A simpler approach permits us to derive the condition and to rule out the possibility of these other equili...

In a differentiated products setting with n varieties it is shown, under certain regularity conditions, that if the demand structure is symmetric and Bertrand and Cournot equilibria are unique then prices and profits are larger and quantities smaller in Cournot than in Bertrand competition and, as n grows, both equilibria converge to the efficient outcome at a rate of at least l/n. If Bertrand ...

We consider Cournot models of competition, where market participants choose the quantities they demand or supply. We study the loss of aggregate surplus due to the exercise of market power in Cournot competition, for both oligopsony and oligopoly models. We observe that efficiency loss is generally arbitrarily high in Cournot games, but also prove bounds on efficiency loss in several cases of i...