THE OUTPUT EFFECT UNDER OLIGOPOLISTIC THIRD DEGREE PRICE DISCRIMINATION*

This paper analyses the output effect of price discrimination in a Cournot oligopoly where firms have different costs. Criteria which are based on the demand curves but not on the industry cost structure are developed to determine the direction of output change. Such criteria may provide an analytical basis for assessing regulatory cases and developing empirical propositions in testing the social impact of oligopolistic price discrimination.