Abstract
This paper analyzes spatial Cournot competition in a circular city with a directional delivery constraint, which means that a firm can only deliver its product in one direction. It reveals that, contrary to the standard result, the unique location equilibrium involves duopoly firms agglomerating at the same location when they deliver products in different directions or when the direction decisions are made endogenously. We point out that spatial agglomeration emerges from a central point of view for a firm in a circular city, showing relaxing quantity competition through cost differentiation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergstrom TC, Varian HR (1985a) Two remarks on Cournot equilibria. Econ Lett 19: 5–8
Bergstrom TC, Varian HR (1985b) When are Nash equilibria independent of the distribution of agent’s characteristics?. Rev Econ Stud 52: 715–718
Cancian M, Bills A, Bergstrom T (1995) Hotelling location problems with directional constraints: an application to television news scheduling. J Ind Econ 43: 121–124
de Frutos MA, Hamoudi H, Jarque X (1999) Equilibrium existence in the circle model with linear quadratic transport cost. Reg Sci Urban Econ 29: 605–615
Gupta B, Lai FC, Pal D, Sarkar J, Yu CM (2004) Where to locate in a circular city?. Int J Ind Organ 22: 759–782
Hall RW (1987) Consolidation strategy: inventory, vehicles and terminals. J Bus Logist 8: 57–73
Irwin D, Klenow P (1994) Learning-by-doing spillovers in the semiconductor industry. J Political Econ 102: 1200–1227
Lai FC (2001) Sequential locations in directional markets. Reg Sci Urban Econ 31: 535–546
Matsumura T, Shimizu D (2006) Cournot and Bertrand in ship** models with circular markets. Pap Reg Sci 85: 585–598
Matsushima N (2001) Cournot competition and spatial agglomeration revisited. Econ Lett 73: 175–177
Nilssen T (1997) Sequential location when transportation costs are asymmetric. Econ Lett 54: 191–201
Pal D (1998) Does Cournot competition yield spatial agglomeration?. Econ Lett 60: 49–53
Salant SW, Shaffer G (1999) Unequal treatment of identical agents in Cournot equilibrium. Am Econ Rev 89: 585–604
Shimizu D (2002) Product differentiation in spatial Cournot markets. Econ Lett 76: 317–322
Shinkai T (2000) Second mover disadvantages in a three-player Stackelberg game with private information. J Econ Theor 90: 293–304
Yu CM, Lai FC (2003) Cournot competition in spatial markets: some further results. Pap Reg Sci 82: 569–580