Innovation in a Generalized Timing Game

Abstract

We examine innovation as a market-entry timing game with complete information and observable actions. We characterize all pure-strategy subgame perfect equilibria for the two-player symmetric model allowing both the leader’s and the follower’s payoff functions to be multi-peaked, non-monotonic and discontinuous. We provide sufficient conditions for when the equilibria can be Pareto-ranked and when the equilibrium is unique. Economic applications discussed include process and product innovation and the timing of the sale of an asset.