2000-10-23
Adoption of Superior Technology in Markets with Heterogeneous Network Externalities and Price Competition
Publication
Publication
In this paper we investigate whether markets with heterogeneous network externalities can be locked-in by old technologies even if superior technologies are available. Heterogeneous network externalities are present when some consumers care more about the size of the market share of a good than others. Interestingly, the answer depends on the quality difference between the old and the new technology and on whether firms compete in prices. Without price competition, a partial lock-in occurs if (and only if) the quality difference is small. In the presence of price competition, lock-in in the traditional sense completely disappears, although the old technology may keep some market share in some periods as the new technology is priced higher in equilibrium.
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hdl.handle.net/1765/6933 | |
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper Series | |
Organisation | Tinbergen Institute |
Janssen, M., & Mendys, E. (2000). Adoption of Superior Technology in Markets with Heterogeneous Network Externalities and Price Competition (No. TI 00-087/1). Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper Series. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/6933 |