Econ 521 - Week 4:
1. Find all (pure strategy) Nash Equilibria in the following games
(a) Prisoner's Dilemma
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2
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C
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S
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1
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C
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1,1
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3,0
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S
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0,3
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2,2
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(b) Battle of the Sexes
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2
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B
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S
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1
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B
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2,1
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0,0
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S
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0,0
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1,2
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(c) Matching Pennies
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2
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H
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T
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1
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H
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1,-1
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-1,1
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T
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-1,1
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1,-1
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2. Basic Cournot game with symmetric firms-
Consider the situation of two firms, with inverse demand function given by
Also, the cost function of each firm i is Ci(qi) = ciqi, where ci < a. Assume c1 = c2 = c. Based on this, answer the following,
(a) Solve for the Nash equilibrium in this game.
(b) Let's assume that the firms decide to collude and each to produce 50% of the total output? Is this collusion sustainable? What if they agreed on a different share of production? Explain.
(c) Compare the situation with a perfect competition case and a monopoly case. Calculate the total equilibrium output, the equilibrium price, the total profit of firms, and consumer surplus in each case.
(d) Now there is a technical change that lowers firm 2's unit cost. That is, now a > c1 > c2. How does your answer in (a) and (b) change?
3. Cournot game with differentiated products
Consider the situation of two firms, each producing a different good, where both markets are related with inverse demand function for firm i given by
Also b ∈ [-1, 1] and the cost function of each firm i is Ci(qi) = cqi, where c < a, ∀i. Based on this, answer the following,
(a) Interpret b. What happens when b < 0? When b > 0? When b = 0?
(b) Solve for the Nash equilibrium of this game. Plot the best response when b < 0 and when b > 0.
(c) Explain why quantities and prices may differ (if they do) in the situation where b > 0 and b < 0.
4. Cournot's duopoly with a fixed cost f
Consider the game where there are two firms, the inverse demand function is linear and the cost function of each firm i is given by,
where c ≥ 0, f > 0, and c < a. Based on this,
(a) Find the Nash equilibria of this game. Find the range of f such that we have a Nash equilibrium where only one firm produces.
(b) What is the role of f?