WW is able to benefit from its first mover advantage by committing to a high level of
output. Since firm 2 moves after firm 1 has selected its output, firm 2 can only react
to the output decision of firm 1. If firm 1 produces its Cournot output as a leader,
firm 2 produces its Cournot output as a follower. Hence, firm 1 cannot do worse as a
leader than it does in the Cournot game. When firm 1 produces more, firm 2
produces less, raising firm 1’s profits.