Monopolistic Competition and Product Diversity: Review and Extension

Journal of Economic Surveys, Forthcoming

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 Last revised: 8 Feb 2011

See all articles by Winston W. Chang

Winston W. Chang

University at Buffalo - Department of Economics

Date Written: January 7, 2011

Abstract

The modeling of monopolistic competition has contributed to rapid developments in numerous fields of economics, notably macroeconomics, international trade, industrial organization, economic growth and economic geography. This paper provides a brief survey and synthesis of the original monopolistic competition models and their subsequent developments, including the works of Spence (1976a, 1976b) and Dixit and Stiglitz (1977) that are based on the "love-of-variety" approach, the works of Lancaster (1966, 1979) that are based on the "love-of-characteristic" approach, and the large-group monopolistic competition models of Hart (1979, 1985a, 1985b), among others. This paper will also examine some of the special utility functions frequently used in the literature on models of monopolistic competition. Perhaps owing to the complexity of these models, the literature lacks a broad and systematic coverage of this essential subject. This paper aims to help fill the gap.

Keywords: monopolistic competition, product diversity, love-of-variety, love-of-characteristic models

JEL Classification: D40, D43, D49

Suggested Citation

Chang, Winston W., Monopolistic Competition and Product Diversity: Review and Extension (January 7, 2011). Journal of Economic Surveys, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1736712 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1736712

Winston W. Chang (Contact Author)

University at Buffalo - Department of Economics ( email )

453 Fronczak Hall
Department of Economics, SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14260
United States
716-645-8671 (Phone)
716-645-2127 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/economics/faculty/faculty-directory/chang.html