IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transe/v141y2020ics1366554520306815.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating the price effects of two airline mergers in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Wenliang
  • Wang, Qiang
  • Yang, Hangjun
  • Zhang, Yahua

Abstract

This paper compares the price effects of two influential airline mergers taking place in China in 2010. We offer the first comparative analysis of two different types of airline mergers in the Chinese airline market: a parallel merger and a complementary merger. With a difference-in-differences approach, we found that the two types of mergers resulted in similar pricing patterns for the airlines involved in the mergers, suggesting that complementary mergers could also confer an increase in market power. It has been found that the negative impact of high-speed rail on fares gradually weakened after the mergers.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Yang, Hangjun & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Evaluating the price effects of two airline mergers in China," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:141:y:2020:i:c:s1366554520306815
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2020.102030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1366554520306815
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Kwoka & Evgenia Shumilkina, 2010. "The Price Effect Of Eliminating Potential Competition: Evidence From An Airline Merger," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 767-793, December.
    2. Yahua Zhang & Anming Zhang, 2017. "Air transport development: a comparative analysis of China and India," Chapters, in: Matthias Finger & Kenneth Button (ed.), Air Transport Liberalization, chapter 7, pages 112-137, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Huubinh B. Le, 2016. "An Empirical Analysis of the Price and Output Effects of the Southwest/Airtran Merger," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 17(3-4), pages 226-240, December.
    4. Shen, Ying, 2017. "Market competition and market price: Evidence from United/Continental airline merger," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 10(C), pages 1-7.
    5. Farrell, Joseph & Shapiro, Carl, 1990. "Horizontal Mergers: An Equilibrium Analysis," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(1), pages 107-126, March.
    6. Sayan Chatterjee, 1986. "Types of synergy and economic value: The impact of acquisitions on merging and rival firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(2), pages 119-139, March.
    7. Joseph Farrell and Carl Shapiro., 2000. "Scale Economies and Synergies in Horizontal Merger Analysis," Economics Working Papers E00-291, University of California at Berkeley.
    8. Qiong Zhang & Hangjun Yang & Qiang Wang, 2013. "Market Conduct of the Three Busiest Airline Routes in China," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 47(3), pages 335-347, September.
    9. Brander, James A. & Zhang, Anming, 1993. "Dynamic oligopoly behaviour in the airline industry," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 407-435, September.
    10. Kim, E Han & Singal, Vijay, 1993. "Mergers and Market Power: Evidence from the Airline Industry," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 83(3), pages 549-569, June.
    11. Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Yang, Hangjun & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Is multimarket contact an antitrust concern? A case of China’s airline market," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 515-526.
    12. Zhang, Yahua & Round, David K., 2008. "China's airline deregulation since 1997 and the driving forces behind the 2002 airline consolidations," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 130-142.
    13. Brueckner, Jan K. & Pels, Eric, 2005. "European airline mergers, alliance consolidation, and consumer welfare," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 27-41.
    14. Xavier Fageda & Jordi Perdiguero, 2014. "An Empirical Analysis of a Merger Between a Network and Low-cost Airlines," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 48(1), pages 81-96, January.
    15. Lijesen, Mark G., 2004. "Adjusting the Herfindahl index for close substitutes: an application to pricing in civil aviation," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 123-134, March.
    16. Vaze, Vikrant & Luo, Tian & Harder, Reed, 2017. "Impacts of airline mergers on passenger welfare," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 130-154.
    17. Dan Luo, 2014. "The Price Effects of the Delta/Northwest Airline Merger," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 44(1), pages 27-48, February.
    18. Choo, Yap Yin & Corbo, Leonardo & Wang, Kun, 2018. "Joint impact of airline market structure and airport ownership on airport market power and profit margin," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 67-78.
    19. Brueckner, Jan K. & Lee, Darin & Singer, Ethan S., 2013. "Airline competition and domestic US airfares: A comprehensivereappraisal," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 1-17.
    20. Severin Borenstein, 1989. "Hubs and High Fares: Dominance and Market Power in the U.S. Airline Industry," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 20(3), pages 344-365, Autumn.
    21. Severin Borenstein & James Bushnell & Christopher R. Knittel, 1999. "Market Power in Electricity Markets: Beyond Concentration Measures," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4), pages 65-88.
    22. Geiger, F. & Schiereck, D., 2014. "The Influence of Industry Concentration on Merger Motives — Empirical Evidence from Machinery Industry Mergers," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 56446, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    23. Hideki Murakami, 2011. "Empirical Analysis Of Inter‐Firm Rivalry Between Japanese Full‐Service And Low‐Cost Carriers," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(1), pages 103-119, February.
    24. Yang, Hangjun & Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Wang, Kun & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Welfare implications for air passengers in China in the era of high-speed rail," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 1-13.
    25. Jia Yan & Xiaowen Fu & Tae Hoon Oum & Kun Wang, 2016. "The Effects of Mergers on Airline Performance and Social Welfare," Advances in Airline Economics, in: Airline Efficiency, volume 5, pages 131-159, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    26. Dario Focarelli & Fabio Panetta, 2003. "Are Mergers Beneficial to Consumers? Evidence from the Market for Bank Deposits," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(4), pages 1152-1172, September.
    27. Carlton, Dennis & Israel, Mark & MacSwain, Ian & Orlov, Eugene, 2019. "Are legacy airline mergers pro- or anti-competitive? Evidence from recent U.S. airline mergers," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 58-95.
    28. Borenstein, Severin, 1990. "Airline Mergers, Airport Dominance, and Market Power," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(2), pages 400-404, May.
    29. Zhang, Qiong & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Qiang & Zhang, Anming, 2014. "Market power and its determinants in the Chinese airline industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-13.
    30. Zhang, Qiong & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Qiang, 2017. "Impact of high-speed rail on China’s Big Three airlines," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 77-85.
    31. Gaggero, Alberto A. & Piga, Claudio A., 2010. "Airline competition in the British Isles," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 270-279, March.
    32. Zou, Li & Oum, Tae H. & Yu, Chunyan, 2011. "Assessing the price effects of airline alliances on complementary routes," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 315-332, May.
    33. Michael G. Vita & Seth Sacher, 2001. "The Competitive Effects of Not‐for‐Profit Hospital Mergers: A Case Study," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 63-84, March.
    34. Farrell, Joseph & Shapiro, Carl, 1991. "Horizontal Mergers: Reply," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(4), pages 1007-1011, September.
    35. Manuela Jr., Wilfred S. & Rhoades, Dawna L. & Curtis, Tamilla, 2019. "Market power at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: The case of Alaska Airlines," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 90-99.
    36. Wu, Chuntao & Liao, Maozhu & Zhang, Yahua & Luo, Mingzhi & Zhang, Guoquan, 2020. "Network development of low-cost carriers in China's domestic market," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    37. Zhang, Yahua & Wang, Kun & Fu, Xiaowen, 2017. "Air transport services in regional Australia: Demand pattern, frequency choice and airport entry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 472-489.
    38. Mizutani, Jun, 2011. "Airline merger and competition in Japan: A conduct parameter and theoretical price approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 120-124.
    39. Li, Hongchang & Yu, Kemei & Wang, Kun & Zhang, Anming, 2019. "Market power and its determinants in the Chinese railway industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 261-276.
    40. Hurdle, Gloria J, et al, 1989. "Concentration, Potential Entry, and Performance in the Airline Industry," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 119-139, December.
    41. Zhang, Qiong & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Qiang & Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Impact of high-speed rail on market concentration and Lerner index in China's airline market," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    42. Friedrich Trautwein, 1990. "Merger motives and merger prescriptions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), pages 283-295, May.
    43. Paul W. Dobson & Claudio A. Piga, 2009. "Mergers and Business Model Assimilation: Evidence from Low-Cost Airlines Takeovers," Discussion Paper Series 2009_2, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Feb 2009.
    44. Levy, David T & Reitzes, James D, 1992. "Anticompetitive Effects of Mergers in Markets with Localized Competition," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 427-440, April.
    45. Fu, Xiaowen & Lei, Zheng & Wang, Kun & Yan, Jia, 2015. "Low cost carrier competition and route entry in an emerging but regulated aviation market – The case of China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 3-16.
    46. Albalate, Daniel & Bel, Germà & Fageda, Xavier, 2015. "Competition and cooperation between high-speed rail and air transportation services in Europe," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 166-174.
    47. Y. Zhang, 2015. "Merger Between Airlines in Financial Distress: Does the Merger Save Them?," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, Intersentia, vol. 16(1), pages 66-82, March.
    48. Park, Jong-Hun, 1997. "The effects of airline alliances on markets and economic welfare," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 181-195, September.
    49. Paul W. Dobson & Claudio A. Piga, 2013. "The Impact Of Mergers On Fares Structure: Evidence From European Low-Cost Airlines," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(2), pages 1196-1217, April.
    50. Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Yang, Hangjun & Zhang, Yahua, 2019. "An analysis of price competition and price wars in Australia's domestic airline market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 163-172.
    51. A. P. Lerner, 1934. "The Concept of Monopoly and the Measurement of Monopoly Power," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 1(3), pages 157-175.
    52. James A. Brander & Anming Zhang, 1990. "Market Conduct in the Airline Industry: An Empirical Investigation," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 21(4), pages 567-583, Winter.
    53. Fabio Panetta & Dario Focarelli, 2003. "Are Mergers Beneficial to Consumers? Evidence from the Italian Market for Bank Deposits," CEIS Research Paper 10, Tor Vergata University, CEIS.
    54. Veldhuis, Jan, 2005. "Impacts of the Air France–KLM merger for airlines, airports and air transport users," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 9-18.
    55. Yahua Zhang, 2012. "A retrospective analysis of the effects of airline mergers on China Eastern's ‘lifeline’ routes: a difference-in-differences approach," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 464-475.
    56. Fu, Xiaowen & Dresner, Martin & Oum, Tae H., 2011. "Effects of transport service differentiation in the US domestic airline market," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 297-305, May.
    57. Barton, David M & Sherman, Roger, 1984. "The Price and Profit Effects of Horizontal Merger: A Case Study," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 165-177, December.
    58. Raymond Deneckere & Carl Davidson, 1985. "Incentives to Form Coalitions with Bertrand Competition," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 16(4), pages 473-486, Winter.
    59. Florian Geiger & Dirk Schiereck, 2014. "The influence of industry concentration on merger motives—empirical evidence from machinery industry mergers," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 38(1), pages 27-52, January.
    60. Prager, Robin A & Hannan, Timothy H, 1998. "Do Substantial Horizontal Mergers Generate Significant Price Effects? Evidence from the Banking Industry," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(4), pages 433-452, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wen, Xin & Sun, Xuting & Sun, Yige & Yue, Xiaohang, 2021. "Airline crew scheduling: Models and algorithms," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    2. Myongjin Kim & Qi Ge & Donggeun Kim, 2021. "Mergers and labor market outcomes in the US airline industry," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(4), pages 849-866, October.
    3. Hong, Seock-Jin & Najmi, Hossein, 2022. "Impact of High-speed rail on air travel demand between Dallas and Houston applying Monte Carlo simulation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    4. Nerja, Adrián, 2023. "Can parallel airline alliances be welfare improving? The case of airline–airport vertical agreement," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Ho, Chun-Yu & McCarthy, Patrick & Wang, Yanhao, 2020. "Decomposing sources of gain from airline mergers: A model and case study from China," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Ho, Chun-Yu & McCarthy, Patrick & Wang, Yanhao, 2021. "Competition and countervailing power: Evidence from the China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines merger," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Silva, Thiago Christiano & Dias, Felipe A.M. & dos Reis, Vinicius E. & Tabak, Benjamin M., 2022. "The role of network topology in competition and ticket pricing in air transportation: Evidence from Brazil," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 601(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Yang, Hangjun & Zhang, Guoquan & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Understanding airline price dispersion in the presence of high-speed rail," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 93-102.
    2. Su, Min & Luan, Weixin & Fu, Xiaowen & Yang, Zaili & Zhang, Rui, 2020. "The competition effects of low-cost carriers and high-speed rail on the Chinese aviation market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 37-46.
    3. Zhang, Qiong & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Qiang & Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Impact of high-speed rail on market concentration and Lerner index in China's airline market," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Yang, Hangjun & Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Wang, Kun & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Welfare implications for air passengers in China in the era of high-speed rail," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 1-13.
    5. Somnath Das, 2019. "Effect of Merger on Market Price and Product Quality: American and US Airways," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 55(3), pages 339-374, November.
    6. Huang, Zhibin & Yong, Jianming & Ma, Wenliang & Chen, Mengying & Xiong, Zihan & Shrestha, Anup, 2022. "Internet penetration and airline pricing: Evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 104-111.
    7. Zhang, Yahua & Sampaio, Breno & Fu, Xiaowen & Huang, Zhibin, 2018. "Pricing dynamics between airline groups with dual-brand services," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 46-59.
    8. Orley Ashenfelter & Daniel Hosken & Matthew Weinberg, 2014. "Did Robert Bork Understate the Competitive Impact of Mergers? Evidence from Consummated Mergers," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 57(S3), pages 67-100.
    9. Yan, Jia & Fu, Xiaowen & Oum, Tae Hoon & Wang, Kun, 2019. "Airline horizontal mergers and productivity: Empirical evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 358-376.
    10. Le, Huubinh B. & Yimga, Jules O., 2023. "Codeshare restrictions as antitrust remedy," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 17-24.
    11. Wang, Kun & Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Yahua, 2018. "Key determinants of airline pricing and air travel demand in China and India: Policy, ownership, and LCC competition," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 80-89.
    12. Zhang, Qiong & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Qiang & Zhang, Anming, 2014. "Market power and its determinants in the Chinese airline industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-13.
    13. de Oliveira, Renan P. & Oliveira, Alessandro V.M., 2021. "Financial distress, survival network design strategies, and airline pricing: An event study of a merger between a bankrupt FSC and an LCC in Brazil," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    14. Sven‐Olof Fridolfsson & Johan Stennek, 2010. "Industry Concentration and Welfare: On the Use of Stock Market Evidence from Horizontal Mergers," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(308), pages 734-750, October.
    15. Paul W. Dobson & Claudio A. Piga, 2009. "Mergers and Business Model Assimilation: Evidence from Low-Cost Airlines Takeovers," Discussion Paper Series 2009_2, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Feb 2009.
    16. Fageda, Xavier & Flores-Fillol, Ricardo & Theilen, Bernd, 2019. "Hybrid cooperation agreements in networks: The case of the airline industry," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 194-227.
    17. Dodonova, Anna, 2013. "Preemptive bidding in takeover auctions with externality," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 35-44.
    18. Wang, Kun & Xia, Wenyi & Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Qiong, 2018. "Effects of train speed on airline demand and price: Theory and empirical evidence from a natural experiment," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 99-130.
    19. Robert Town & Douglas Wholey & Roger Feldman & Lawton R. Burns, 2006. "The Welfare Consequences of Hospital Mergers," NBER Working Papers 12244, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    20. Joel Stiebale & Florian Szücs, 2022. "Mergers and market power: evidence from rivals' responses in European markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 53(4), pages 678-702, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Airline merger; Price effect; Comparative analysis; High-speed rail; Overlapping network; Complementary network;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L93 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Air Transportation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:141:y:2020:i:c:s1366554520306815. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600244/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.