Econometrica

Journal Of The Econometric Society

An International Society for the Advancement of Economic
Theory in its Relation to Statistics and Mathematics

Edited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262

Econometrica: May, 1994, Volume 62, Issue 3

Nonatomic Economies and the Boundaries of Perfect Competition

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2951660
p. 593-633

Joseph M. Ostroy, William R. Zame

This paper explores the distinction between nonatomicity and thick markets as the source of perfect competition. The focus of the paper is the construction of a model of an imperfectly competitive economy with a nonatomic continuum of traders and a continuum of differentiated commodities, for which Walrasian equilibria exist. The failure of perfect competition in this instance can be identified in two ways: individuals can affect prices and the core is strictly larger than the set of Walrasian allocations. By contrast, it is shown that, when markets are physically or economically thick (or both), then individuals cannot typically affect prices and the core always coincides with the set of Walrasian allocations.


Log In To View Full Content

Journal News

View