Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Paper Series,
Uppsala University, Department of Economics
No 1998:9: Indirect Evolution versus Strategic Delegation: A Comparison of Two Approaches to Explaining Economic Institutions
Martin Dufwenberg () and Werner Güth
Additional contact information
Martin Dufwenberg: Department of Economics, Postal: Department of Economics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Werner Güth: Department of Economics, Postal: Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Abstract: Two major methods of explaining economic institutions, namely by strategic choices or through (indirect) evolution, are compared for the case of a homogenous quadratic duopoly market. Sellers either can provide incentives for agents to care for sales, or evolve as sellers who care for sales in addition to profits. The two approaches are conceptually quite different, yet similar in the sense that both allow certain kinds of commitment. We show that when the two models are set up in intuitively comparable ways strategic delegation does not change the market results as compared to the usual duopoly solution, while indirect evolution causes a more competitive behavior. Thus the case at hand underscores the differences between the two approaches in explaining economic institutions.
Keywords: Indirect evolution; strategic delgation; commitment; duopoly markets; agency theory
19 pages, March 6, 1998
Full text files
1998wp9.pdf
Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Ulrika Öjdeby ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().
This page generated on 2024-02-05 17:14:00.