A 'Truly Sequential' Resolution to Chainstore Paradox

Abstract

This paper resolves the chainstore paradox by viewing each game of a monopolist against a single competitor as a sequential game. Every game is done under perfect and complete information. In this sequential game, with subgame perfection imposed, the number of sequential stages - even or odd - matter greatly for the resulting equilibrium, with odd supporting the deterrence theory equilibrium and even supporting the induction theory equilibrium.