Non-optimality of state by state monopoly pricing with demand uncertainty: An example

27/11/2022

Non-optimality of state by state monopoly pricing with demand uncertainty: An example

James Peck and Jeevant Rampal

Journal Articles | Economics Letters

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This paper considers a monopoly’s profit maximizing problem, where there is a continuum of consumers with unit demand, and valuations are given by one of two possible demand distributions/states. The firm’s problem is to maximize profits by choosing an optimal mechanism among direct revelation mechanisms that satisfy interim incentive compatibility and ex-post individual rationality. We show that setting the monopoly price in each demand state may not be optimal.

IIMA