A DYNAMIC OLIGOPOLY STRUCTURAL MODEL FOR THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG MARKET AFTER PATENT EXPIRATION

This article incorporates consumer learning and heterogeneity Into a dynamic oligopoly model for the prescription drug market In the model both firms and patients need to learn the generic qualities via patients experiences generic firms entry decisions are endogenous but their entry timings depend on a random approval process I apply the model to examine the impact of shortening the expected generic approval time Although this policy experiment brings generics to the market sooner it increases a potential entrant s likelihood of entering a crowded market and hence could reduce the total number of generic entrants and consumer welfare