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Estimating the Causal Effect of Entry on Generic Drug Prices Using Hatch–Waxman Exclusivity

Author

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  • Luke M. Olson

    (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

  • Brett W. Wendling

    (Federal Trade Commission)

Abstract

Competition among generics helps keep drug prices low and control medical costs. Good estimates of the effect on price of the entry of another generic competitor would inform competition policy and test oligopoly theories. However, identifying the causal effect of entry is difficult since the number of firms that compete in a market is endogenously determined. We exploit provisions of the 1984 Hatch–Waxman Act to identify a causal effect. We find that ignoring endogenous selection into generic drug markets imparts a significant downward bias to the estimates of the effects of two and three competitors on generic drug prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke M. Olson & Brett W. Wendling, 2018. "Estimating the Causal Effect of Entry on Generic Drug Prices Using Hatch–Waxman Exclusivity," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 53(1), pages 139-172, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:53:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s11151-018-9627-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-018-9627-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher M. Snyder & Victor J. Tremblay, 2018. "Introduction to the Special Issue on “The Intersection Between Industrial Organization and Healthcare Economics”," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 53(1), pages 1-6, August.
    2. Victoria Serra-Sastre & Simona Bianchi & Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz & Phill O’Neill, 2021. "Does NICE influence the adoption and uptake of generics in the UK?," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(2), pages 229-242, March.
    3. Serra-Sastre, Victoria & Bianchi, Simona & Mestre-Ferrandiz, Jorge & O’Neill, Phill, 2021. "Does NICE influence the adoption and uptake of generics in the UK?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 113639, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Generic entry; Pharmaceutical; Prescription drugs; Price competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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