Section 10 Flashcards
Four-firm Concentration
Output of the four largest firms in an industry divided by the total industry.
20%, 20%, 20%, 20%, 10%, 10% = 20+20+20+20 = 80 - 80/100
Herfindahl Index
Sum of the squared percentage market share of all firms.
Take each firms percentage and square it, then add them
10%, 20%, 20% and 50% = 10(2)+20(2)+20(2)+50(2)
Game Theory
Process of analyzing the best way for two or more players to play a game where what one player does affects the other player. They don’t know what the other player will since they go at the same time.
One-Time Game
Firms select their optimal strategy in a single time period without regard to interactions in further time periods.
Also a simultaneous game and a positive sum game.
Simultaneous Game
Firms choose their strategies at the same time.
Positive Sum Game
Where the sum of two firms outcomes is positive.
Zero Sum Game
Where the sum is zero because one firms gain must equal the other firms losses.
Negative Sum Game
Where the sum of the two firms is negative.
Dominant Strategy
This is where the choice selected will be the best choice in all conditions - regardless of what the other firm does you will make more with this choice then the other choice.
Nash Equilibrium
The optimal strategy.
Outcome that neither of your want, but is based less risk then the other options given the other firms potential choice.
Credible Threat
A threat that is believable by the other firm. One that will convince them.
Must carry out punishment quickly.
Empty Threat
A threat that is not believable, so the other firm won’t listen to it.
Repeated Game
Where the game is repeated more then once, so it might be better to cooperate.
Sequential Game
Where one firm moves and the other firm can decide how to respond based on the first firms choices.
First-mover Advantage
Where your moving in first could prevent them from even playing because they know they will only see losses.
Concepts of a Game
- Rules
- Players
- Strategies
- Payoffs
Payoff Matrix
A representation that shows the possible payouts based on each potential outcome.
Prisoners Dilemma
Where the players will rat each other out because they fear being rated out themselves. So they could have done better by both of them not saying anything, but they don’t know since they weren’t able to collude.
Perfect Information in a Game
Each individual knows the payoffs and unable to collude.
Tit-for-tat
Where firms punish each other for not cooperating with strategies - so you do to them what they did to you in a future round.