Two Alternative Stochastic Specifications and Estimation Methods for Quantity Rationing Models : A Monte-Carlo Comparison

Quantity rationing (disequilibrium) models can be characterized either by deterministic or by stochastic switching rules. This paper reports on Monte-Carlo experiments suggesting that the ML estimator associated with the deterministic switching rule one-market model apparently has better small sample properties than its stochastic switching rule counterpart even when the latter is asymptotically superior. This seems to be the result of a systematic residual variance underestimation in the stochastic switching rule model. The feasibility of the deterministic switching rule estimator in a two-market framework is next investigated.