Cournot and Bertrand equilibria compared: Substitutability, complementarity and concavity

Abstract

This paper assesses the view that Bertrand equilibrium is intrinsically more competitive than Cournot equilibrium. We consider an oligopoly model with linear demand, and a mixture of substitute and complementary products. Our results provide support for the conventional wisdom, and also indicate its limitations. We provide counter-examples showing that no clear-cut comparison of prices and quantities is possible without strategic complementarity in either of the two games. However, price competition is indeed more competitive according to the following criteria: lower mark-up/output ratios, larger average output, and lower average price. © Elsevier Science B.V.