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Double marginalization and cost pass-through: Weyl–Fabinger and Cowan meet Spengler and Bresnahan–Reiss

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  • Adachi, Takanori
  • Ebina, Takeshi

Abstract

Consider the classical double marginalization problem of single-product successive monopolies. We show that the ratio of the cost pass-through at the final sale relative to that at the wholesale level is characterized by the curvature of inverse demand in the final market. We also apply Cowan’s (2012) method, which utilizes the idea of pass-through in an analysis of third-degree price discrimination, to compare consumer surplus under vertical integration and separation.

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  • Adachi, Takanori & Ebina, Takeshi, 2014. "Double marginalization and cost pass-through: Weyl–Fabinger and Cowan meet Spengler and Bresnahan–Reiss," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 122(2), pages 170-175.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:122:y:2014:i:2:p:170-175
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2013.11.020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Adachi, Takanori & Ebina, Takeshi, 2014. "Cost pass-through and inverse demand curvature in vertical relationships with upstream and downstream competition," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 124(3), pages 465-468.
    2. Takanori Adachi & Michal Fabinger, 2017. "Multi-Dimensional Pass-Through, Incidence, and the Welfare Burden of Taxation in Oligopoly," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1040, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    3. Luong, Phat V. & Xu, Xiaowei, 2020. "Pass-through of commodity price shocks in distribution channels with risk-averse agents," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    4. Jong-Hee Hahn & Youngjun Lee, 2023. "Sequential Pricing in Successive or Bilateral Monopolies with Separate Consumer Groups," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 39, pages 495-516.
    5. Takanori Adachi & Michal Fabinger, 2017. "Multi-Dimensional Pass-Through and Welfare Measures under Imperfect Competition," Papers 1702.04967, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2018.
    6. Yongmin Chen & Marius Schwartz, 2015. "Differential pricing when costs differ: a welfare analysis," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 46(2), pages 442-460, June.
    7. Gaudin, Germain, 2016. "Pass-through, vertical contracts, and bargains," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1-4.
    8. Durevall, Dick, 2017. "Cost Pass-Through in the Swedish Coffee Market," HUI Working Papers 120, HUI Research.
    9. Adachi, Takanori, 2020. "Hong and Li meet Weyl and Fabinger: Modeling vertical structure by the conduct parameter approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    10. Ziaul Haq Adnan & Ertunga Özelkan, 2019. "Bullwhip effect in pricing under different supply chain game structures," Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(5), pages 393-404, October.
    11. Durevall, Dick, 2017. "Cost Pass-Through in the Swedish Coffee Market," Working Papers in Economics 697, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    12. Simon Cowan, 2023. "Welfare-increasing monopolization," Economics Series Working Papers 1006, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    13. Takanori Adachi & Muhammad Michal Fabinger, 2017. "Multi-Dimensional Pass-Through, Incidence, and the Welfare Burden of Taxation in Oligopoly," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1040, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    14. Michele Santoni, 2017. "Protective Excise Taxation," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 421-445, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Double marginalization; Cost pass-through; Inverse demand curvature; Consumer surplus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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