In: Economics
In the following table, the profits from a duopoly model of competition are shown. Firms 1 and 2 simultaneously choose the quantity of outputs to produce. Each firm is restricted to producing 25, 35, 50 or 100 units of output. Is there a Nash equilibrium? What is it? Briefly explain.
Firm 2
| 
 Q2 = 25  | 
 35  | 
 50  | 
 100  | 
||
| 
 Q1 = 25  | 
 125, 125  | 
 100, 140  | 
 63, 125  | 
 -63, -250  | 
|
| 
 Firm 1  | 
 35  | 
 140, 100  | 
 105, 105  | 
 53, 75  | 
 -123, -350  | 
| 
 50  | 
 125, 63  | 
 75, 53  | 
 0, 0  | 
 -250, -500  | 
|
| 
 100  | 
 -250, -63  | 
 -350, -130  | 
 -500,-250  | 
 -900, -900  | 
First look at the strategy of firm 1. When firm 2 selects 25 units, firm 1 selects 35 units as its profit are 140 at highest. When firm 2 selects 35 units, firm 1 selects 35 units as its profit are 105 at highest. When firm 2 selects 50 units, firm 1 selects 25 units as its profit are 63 at highest. When firm 2 selects 100 units, firm 1 selects 100 units as its losses are lowest at 63.
Now look at the strategy of firm 2. When firm 1 selects 25 units, firm 2 selects 35 units as its profit are 140 at highest. When firm 1 selects 35 units, firm 2 selects 35 units as its profit are 105 at highest. When firm 1 selects 50 units, firm 2 selects 25 units as its profit are 63 at highest. When firm 1 selects 100 units, firm 2 selects 100 units as its losses are lowest at 63.
There is a single Nash equilibrium where both firms produce 35 units.
