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On the welfare impact of mergers of complements: Raising rivals’ costs versus elimination of double marginalization

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  • Akgün, Uğur
  • Caffarra, Cristina
  • Etro, Federico
  • Stillman, Robert

Abstract

A common view in antitrust analysis is that mergers of complements can have raising rivals’ costs and elimination of double marginalization effects, with the net effect on consumer welfare thus unclear. We revise this view in the context of a merger between a monopolist in one market and a duopoly producer of a complement good. With linear demand and imperfect substitutability, while such a merger increases the price of the monopolized component, elimination of double marginalization dominates any raising rivals’ costs effects, increasing consumer welfare. We discuss a variety of extensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Akgün, Uğur & Caffarra, Cristina & Etro, Federico & Stillman, Robert, 2020. "On the welfare impact of mergers of complements: Raising rivals’ costs versus elimination of double marginalization," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:195:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520302676
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Etro, Federico, 2019. "Mergers of complements and entry in innovative industries," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 302-326.
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    9. Arya, Anil & Mittendorf, Brian & Sappington, David E.M., 2008. "Outsourcing, vertical integration, and price vs. quantity competition," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 1-16, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael A. Salinger, 2021. "The New Vertical Merger Guidelines: Muddying the Waters," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 59(2), pages 161-176, September.
    2. Liliane Karlinger & Dimitrios Magos & Pierre Régibeau & Hans Zenger, 2020. "Recent Developments at DG Competition: 2019/2020," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 57(4), pages 783-814, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mergers; Raising rivals’ cost; Complements; Antitrust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
    • L5 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy

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