In this paper, we study the dynamics of competition in the payment card market. This is done through a multi-agent based model, which captures explicitly the commercial transactions at the point of sale between consum...In this paper, we study the dynamics of competition in the payment card market. This is done through a multi-agent based model, which captures explicitly the commercial transactions at the point of sale between consumers and mer-chants. Through simulation, we attempt to model the demand for payment instruments on both sides of the market. Constrained by this complex demand, a Generalised Population Based Incremental Learning (GPBIL) algorithm is applied to find a profit-maximizing strategy, which in addition has to achieve an average number of card transactions. In the present study we compare the performance of a profit-maximizing strategies obtained by the GPBIL algorithm versus the performance of randomly selected strategies. We found that under the search criteria used, GPBIL was capable of improving the price structure and price level over randomly selected strategies.展开更多
This paper investigates the structure of the payment card market, with consumers and merchants basing their subscription decisions on different information sets. We find that the market structure depends crucially on ...This paper investigates the structure of the payment card market, with consumers and merchants basing their subscription decisions on different information sets. We find that the market structure depends crucially on the information set on which consumers and merchants base their subscription decisions. In the studied case, we observe that a market with few cards dominating only emerges when decisions are based on very limited information. Under the same conditions using a complete information set, all cards survive in the long run. The use of an agent-based model, focusing on the interactions between merchants and consumers, as a basis for subscription decisions allows us to investigate the dynamics of the market and the effect of the indirect network externalities rather than investigating only equilibrium outcomes.展开更多
文摘In this paper, we study the dynamics of competition in the payment card market. This is done through a multi-agent based model, which captures explicitly the commercial transactions at the point of sale between consumers and mer-chants. Through simulation, we attempt to model the demand for payment instruments on both sides of the market. Constrained by this complex demand, a Generalised Population Based Incremental Learning (GPBIL) algorithm is applied to find a profit-maximizing strategy, which in addition has to achieve an average number of card transactions. In the present study we compare the performance of a profit-maximizing strategies obtained by the GPBIL algorithm versus the performance of randomly selected strategies. We found that under the search criteria used, GPBIL was capable of improving the price structure and price level over randomly selected strategies.
文摘This paper investigates the structure of the payment card market, with consumers and merchants basing their subscription decisions on different information sets. We find that the market structure depends crucially on the information set on which consumers and merchants base their subscription decisions. In the studied case, we observe that a market with few cards dominating only emerges when decisions are based on very limited information. Under the same conditions using a complete information set, all cards survive in the long run. The use of an agent-based model, focusing on the interactions between merchants and consumers, as a basis for subscription decisions allows us to investigate the dynamics of the market and the effect of the indirect network externalities rather than investigating only equilibrium outcomes.
