📚 Learning Guide
Game Theory and Oligopolies
easy

In a game involving two firms in an oligopoly, if both firms have a dominant strategy to set a low price regardless of the competitor's action, what can we conclude about their pricing behavior?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Both firms will set high prices

B

One firm will set a high price while the other sets a low price

C

Both firms will set low prices

D

The firms will randomly set prices

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

In an oligopoly, when two firms have a dominant strategy to set a low price, it means that each firm believes that no matter what the other firm does, setting a low price will always be the best choice for them. This leads to a situation where both firms will lower their prices, which can result in lower profits for both compared to if they had cooperated and set higher prices. For example, if Firm A and Firm B both decide to sell their products for $10 instead of $15, they attract more customers, but their profits decrease because they are selling at a lower price. Ultimately, this behavior shows how competition can drive prices down in an oligopoly, leading to a scenario where both firms may end up worse off. This illustrates the classic dilemma in game theory, where individual rational choices can lead to a less favorable outcome for all players involved.

Detailed Explanation

Both firms will choose to set low prices. Other options are incorrect because Some might think both firms will set high prices to maximize profits; This option suggests one firm will set a high price while the other sets a low price.

Key Concepts

Dominant Strategy
Topic

Game Theory and Oligopolies

Difficulty

easy level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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