Empirical Analysis of Closed-Loop Duopoly Advertising Strategies
Management Science · 1992 · Volume 38 · Issue 12
Abstract
Closed-loop (perfect) equilibria in a Lanchester duopoly differential game of advertising competition are used as the basis for empirical investigation. Two systems of simultaneous nonlinear equations are formed, one from a general Lanchester model and one from a constrained model. Two empirical applications are conducted. In one involving Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, a formal statistical testing procedure is used to detect whether closed-loop equilibrium advertising strategies are used by the competitors rather than open-loop strategies. In the second application, involving Anheuser-Busch and Miller, the general model is estimated. Results indicate that closed-loop equilibria better explain dynamic advertising competition than do open-loop equilibria. Also, closed-loop equilibrium advertising strategies implied by model estimates show that competitive advertising levels may or may not be monotonic in market share.
Keywords
marketing, competitive strategy, advertising, games, noncooperative, differential
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