Cheaper Tech Boosts Competition, Lowers Prices for Consumers
This paper looks at how technology is adopted in a market with two companies that sell similar but slightly different products. It compares how the adoption of new technology changes depending on how the companies compete: either by setting their prices (Bertrand) or by deciding how much to produce (Cournot). The study shows that the cost of technology affects the adoption differently under each type of competition. In Bertrand competition, one company might have lower costs after adopting technology, which can lead to overall lower costs for the industry. On the other hand, in Cournot competition, if the new technology only slightly reduces costs, it might actually be more efficient than in Bertrand competition. Different types of competition can impact how technology changes the industry's costs.