Market Share Dynamics in a Model with Search and Word-of-Mouth Communication

Schmidt, Robert C. (Januar 2010): Market Share Dynamics in a Model with Search and Word-of-Mouth Communication. SFB/TR 15 Discussion Paper No. 301

Abstract

This paper analyzes price competition in an infinitely repeated duopoly game. In each period, consumers remember the existence and location of their previous supplier. New information is gathered via search or word-of-mouth communication. Market outcomes are history-dependent, and the Markov perfection refinement is used to narrow the set of equilibria. Firms are shown to use mixed pricing strategies in equilibrium. The resulting price dispersion generates non-trivial market share dynamics. The goal of the paper is to characterize these dynamics, and to reveal the driving forces behind them.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Keywords: repeat purchasing, search, customer loyalty, lock-in, mixed pricing
• Fakultät: Sonderforschungsbereiche > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems ; Sonderforschungsbereiche > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems > C5 - Wettbewerbspolitik als Steuerung von Wettbewerbsprozessen
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: D83, L11
• Sprache: Englisch