Paper #268

Título:

Free entry does not imply zero profits

Autores:

Sjaak Hurkens y Nir Vulkan

Fecha:

Diciembre 1997

Resumen:

Traditional economic wisdom says that free entry in a market will drive profits down to zero. This conclusion is usually drawn under the assumption of perfect information. We assume that a priori there exists imperfect information about the profitability of the market, but that potential entrants may learn the demand curve perfectly at negligible cost by engaging in market research. Even if in equilibrium firms learn the demand perfectly, profits may be strictly positive because of insufficient entry. The mere fact that it will not become common knowledge that every entrant has perfect information about demand causes this surprising result. Belief means doubt. Knowing means certainty. Introduction to the Kabalah.

Palabras clave:

Information_acquisition, entry, zero-profit_condition

Códigos JEL:

C72, D43, D82

Área de investigación:

Microeconomía

Publicado en:

Economics Letters, 81, 3, (2003), pp. 285-290

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