Monopoly Power and Endogenous Product Variety: Distortions and Remedies

Abstract

The inefficiencies related to endogenous product creation and variety under monopolistic competition are two-fold: one static—the mis-alignment between consumers and producers regarding the value of a new variety; and one dynamic—time variation in markups. When production factors (labor and physical capital ) are elastic and traded in competitive markets, further distortions appear. Appropriate taxation schemes can restore optimality if they preserve entry incentives. Quantitatively, the welfare costs of each distortion by itself amounts to 2 to 5 percent of consumption. But their overall cost when jointly present is greatly magnified, and generates up to a 25 percent welfare loss. (JEL D21, D43, H21, H25, H32, L13)