Asymptotic Relations in Cournot's Quantity Game: Some International Trade Implications

In this paper, drawing on international trade theory, I derive the asymptotic relation that holds for oligopolists’ iso-profit curves within Cournot’s game and I discuss the properties of the Nash equilibrium. Thereafter, I provide an economic rationale for such a mathematical relation. The results of this exploration suggest that for each firm the asymptotes of the iso-profit curves convey the boundaries towards which output competitors become net purchasers of the produced good.