Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. A Simulation-Based Heuristic to Find Approximate Equilibria with Disaggregate Demand Models
 
research article

A Simulation-Based Heuristic to Find Approximate Equilibria with Disaggregate Demand Models

Bortolomiol, Stefano  
•
Lurkin, Virginie  
•
Bierlaire, Michel  
September 1, 2021
Transportation Science

Oligopolistic competition occurs in various transportation markets. In this paper, we introduce a framework to find approximate equilibrium solutions of oligopolistic markets in which demand is modeled at the disaggregate level using discrete choice models, according to random utility theory. Compared with aggregate demand models, the added value of discrete choice models is the possibility to account for more complex and precise representations of individual behaviors. Because of the form of the resulting demand functions, there is no guarantee that an equilibrium solution for the given market exists, nor is it possible to rely on derivative-based methods to find one. Therefore, we propose a model-based algorithmic approach to find approximate equilibria, which is structured as follows. A heuristic reduction of the search space is initially performed. Then, a subgame equilibrium problem is solved using a mixed integer optimization model inspired by the fixed-point iteration algorithm. The optimal solution of the subgame is compared against the best responses of all suppliers over the strategy sets of the original game. Best response strategies are added to the restricted problem until all epsilon-equilibrium conditions are satisfied simultaneously. Numerical experiments show that our methodology can approximate the results of an exact method that finds a pure equilibrium in the case of a multinomial logit model of demand with a single-product offer and homogeneous demand. Furthermore, it succeeds at finding approximate equilibria for two transportation case studies featuring more complex discrete choice models, heterogeneous demand, a multiproduct offer by suppliers, and price differentiation for which no analytical approach exists.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1287/trsc.2021.1071
Web of Science ID

WOS:000718930200004

Author(s)
Bortolomiol, Stefano  
Lurkin, Virginie  
Bierlaire, Michel  
Date Issued

2021-09-01

Publisher

INFORMS

Published in
Transportation Science
Volume

55

Issue

5

Start page

1025

End page

1045

Subjects

Operations Research & Management Science

•

Transportation

•

Transportation Science & Technology

•

competition

•

equilibrium

•

disaggregate demand

•

discrete choice modeling

•

price-competition

•

dynamic oligopoly

•

revenue management

•

choice model

•

optimization

•

behavior

•

entry

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
TRANSP-OR  
Available on Infoscience
December 4, 2021
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/183572
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés