Monopolistic competition in general equilibrium: Beyond the CES

We propose a general model of monopolistic competition and derive a complete characterization of the market equilibrium using the concept of Relative Love for Variety. When the RLV increases with individual consumption, the market generates pro-competitive effects. When it decreases, the market mimics anti-competitive behavior. The CES is a borderline case. We extend our setting to heterogeneous firms and show that the cutoff cost decreases (increases) when the RLV increases (decreases). Last, we study how combining vertical, horizontal and cost heterogeneity affects our results.monopolistic competition ; additive preferences ; love for variety ; heterogeneous firms

One way to the top: How services boost the demand for goods. National Bank of Belgium Working Paper No. 340

In this paper, we take advantage of a uniquely detailed dataset on firm-level exports of both goods and services to show that demand complementarities between services and goods enable firms to boost their manufacturing exports by also providing services. The positive causal effect of services accounts for up to 25% of the manufacturing exports of bi-exporters (i.e. the firms that export both goods and services), and 12% of overall goods exports from Belgium. We find that by associating services with their goods, bi-exporters increase both the quantities and the prices of their goods. To rationalize these findings, we develop a new model of oligopolistic competition featuring one-way complementarity between goods and services, product differentiation, and love for variety. By supplying services with their goods, firms increase their market share, and hence their market power and markup. The model then shows that exporting services acts as a demand shifter for firms, increasing the perceived quality of their products. Going back to the data, we find strong confirmation for this mechanism

Variable Markups in the Long-Run: A Generalization of Preferences in Growth Models

This paper introduces variable mark-ups in a horizontal-differentiation growth model by considering a larger class of preferences that nests the classic “CES” specification usually present in the workhorse love-for-variety models. Our first result is to obtain a generalized characterization of the Euler condition for this broader class of utility functions: in our model, the Euler rule features a supplementary term aiming at compensating the consumer for variations in the preference for variety along the consumption level. We are then also able to demonstrate that in our generalized framework, the economy’s balanced growth path displays both endogenous markups and a strictly positive growth rate of the number of available varieties (being the engine of growth). Finally, we show that under endogenous markups, the economy’s growth rate and firms’ market power can display a negative correlation, as opposed to the standard result obtained in the CES framework

Toward a theory of monopolistic competition

We propose a general model of monopolistic competition, which encompasses existing models while being flexible enough to take into account new demand and competition features. Using the concept of Frechet differentiability, we determine a general demand system. The basic tool we use to study the market outcome is the elasticity of substitution at a symmetric consumption pattern, which depends on both the per capita consumption and the total mass of varieties. We impose intuitive conditions on this function to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of a free-entry equilibrium. Our model is able to mimic oligopolistic behavior and to replicate partial equilibrium results within a general equilibrium framework. For example, an increase in per capita income or in population size shifts prices (outputs) downwards (upwards). When firms face the same productivity shock, they adopt an incomplete pass-through policy, except when preferences are homothetic. Finally, we show how our approach can be generalized to the case of a multisector economy and extended to cope with heterogeneous firms and consumers

Profit Shifting Frictions and the Geography of Multinational Activity

We develop a quantitative general equilibrium model of multinational activity embedding corporate taxation and profit shifting. In addition to trade and investment frictions, our model shows that profit-shifting frictions shape the geography of multinational production. Key to our model is the distinction between the corporate tax elasticity of real activity and profit shifting. The quantification of our model requires estimates of shifted profits flows. We provide a new, model-consistent methodology to calibrate bilateral profit-shifting frictions based on accounting identities. We simulate various tax reforms aimed at curbing tax-dodging practices of multinationals and their impact on a range of outcomes, including tax revenues and production. Our results show that the effects of the international relocation of firms across countries are of comparable magnitude as the direct gains in taxable income

Monopolistic Competition in General Equilibrium: Beyond the CES

We propose a general model of monopolistic competition and derive a complete characterization of the market equilibrium using the concept of Relative Love for Variety. When the RLV increases with individual consumption, the market generates pro-competitive effects. When it decreases, the market mimics anti-competitive behavior. The CES is a borderline case. We extend our setting to heterogeneous firms and show that the cutoff cost decreases (increases) when the RLV increases (decreases). Last, we study how combining vertical, horizontal and cost heterogeneity affects our results.Monopolistic competition, Additive preferences, Love for variety, Heterogeneous firms

Revisiting Cournot and Bertrand in the presence of income effects

The main purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed comparison of two types of oligopolistic competition: quantity competition (Cournot) and price competition (Bertrand) with or without Ford effect: strategic allowing for firm's impact on consumer's income. This is accomplished in a simple general equilibrium model where consumers are endowed with separable preferences. We show that without Ford effect Cournot competition always generates a higher markup than Bertrand competition. This reflects the folk wisdom, according to which Cournot competition is softer than Bertrand competition. Furthermore, as the number of competitors becomes arbitrarily large, both types of oligopolistic competition deliver the same equilibrium outcome. Allowing for Ford effect makes Cournot equilibrium undetermined in prices, while Ford-Bertrand symmetric equilibrium is sill unique, but may not exist when number of firms is not so large. If exists, Ford-Bertrand competition generates a higher markup than Bertrand competition without Ford effect. This reflects the idea that better knowledge implies more market power

Revisiting Cournot and Bertrand in the presence of income effects

The main purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed comparison of two types of oligopolistic competition: quantity competition (Cournot) and price competition (Bertrand) with or without Ford effect: strategic allowing for firm's impact on consumer's income. This is accomplished in a simple general equilibrium model where consumers are endowed with separable preferences. We show that without Ford effect Cournot competition always generates a higher markup than Bertrand competition. This reflects the folk wisdom, according to which Cournot competition is softer than Bertrand competition. Furthermore, as the number of competitors becomes arbitrarily large, both types of oligopolistic competition deliver the same equilibrium outcome. Allowing for Ford effect makes Cournot equilibrium undetermined in prices, while Ford-Bertrand symmetric equilibrium is sill unique, but may not exist when number of firms is not so large. If exists, Ford-Bertrand competition generates a higher markup than Bertrand competition without Ford effect. This reflects the idea that better knowledge implies more market power

The Real Effects of Tax Havens

It is common to summarize the impact of tax havens as a shift of tax revenues from high to low-tax jurisdictions. This chapter discusses the economic impact of tax havens that goes beyond a zero-sum transfer of the tax base, what we label real effects. We review the literature and focus on exploring how profit shifting affects employment, investment, and innovation in firms. We consider in turn how real effects shape market structure and their implications in general equilibrium. In conclusion, we propose some potential pathways for future research in terms of methodology and areas that we deem promising for further exploration

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

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