Monopoly Power can be Disadvantageous in the Extraction of a Durable Nonrenewable Resource

We study a Markov equilibrium for the case where a monopolist extracts a nonrenewable resource which is converted to a durable good, which then depreciates at a constant rate. We show that in a stationary, continuous time model (infinite horizon, infinitesimal period of commitment) monopoly power can be disadvantageous. Numerical experiments c o n f i that this can also occur in a finite horizon, discrete model. This result is compared to previous examples of disadvantageous market power, obtained using two-period models.