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Is the Boone-Indicator Applicable? – Evidence from a Combined Data Set of German Manufacturing Enterprises

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  • Schiersch Alexander
  • Schmidt-Ehmcke Jens

    (German Institute for Economic Research, Department of Innovation, manufacturing, Service, Mohrenstraße 58, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Boone (2008a) proposes a new competition measure based on Relative Profit Differences (RPD) that, from its theoretical properties, proves to be more robust than the Lerner-Index. However, the proof of the empirical practicability and robustness of the Boone-Indicator is missing. To fill this gap, we use a rich, newly built, data set for German manufacturing enterprises and test its empirical validity using cartel cases. Since all of the identified cartels significantly restricted market competition, we expect fiercer competition after the uncovering. We asses the validity of the indicators by comparing the indicated competition levels before and after the cartels were uncovered and stopped. The Boone-Indicator is calculated as RPDs and as a beta coefficient of a log-log regression. The Lerner-Index is used as a benchmark. Our analysis finds that the Boone-Indicator, based on a simple regression approach, fails to correctly indicate competition. Since the Boone-Indicator, based on pure RPDs, proves to be inapplicable, we propose an augmented indicator based on size-adjusted RPDs, which performs better. However, our findings suggest that, given the information typically available in census data, the Lerner-Index is still the only measure that correctly indicates competitive changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Schiersch Alexander & Schmidt-Ehmcke Jens, 2011. "Is the Boone-Indicator Applicable? – Evidence from a Combined Data Set of German Manufacturing Enterprises," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 231(3), pages 336-357, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:231:y:2011:i:3:p:336-357
    DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2011-0304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Aurélien Leroy & Yannick Lucotte, 2015. "Heterogeneous monetary transmission process in the Eurozone: Does banking competition matter?," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 141, pages 115-134.
    3. Marie Le Mouel & Alexander Schiersch, 2020. "Knowledge-Based Capital and Productivity Divergence," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1868, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    4. Slivko, Olga, 2012. "Innovation strategies of German firms: The effect of competition and intellectual property protection," ZEW Discussion Papers 12-089, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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