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Vertical Mergers in a Model of Upstream Monopoly and Incomplete Information

Author

Listed:
  • Serge Moresi

    (Charles River Associates)

  • David Reitman

    (Charles River Associates)

  • Steven C. Salop

    (Georgetown University Law Center)

  • Yianis Sarafidis

    (Charles River Associates)

Abstract

We examine the role of private information on the impact of vertical mergers. A vertical merger can improve the information that is available to an upstream monopolist because, after the merger, the monopolist can observe the cost of its downstream merger partner. In the pre-merger world, because the costs of the downstream firms are private information, the monopolist has incomplete information and cannot implement the monopoly outcome: The expected pre-merger equilibrium price of the downstream product is lower than the monopoly price. After a vertical merger, the equilibrium input price that is charged to the downstream rival can either increase or decrease—depending on whether the downstream merger partner’s cost is low or high, respectively. However, in all cases the equilibrium price of the downstream product increases to the monopoly price. Therefore, the merger leads to consumer harm even when it leads to a reduction in the input price. The merged firm, however, cannot extract all of the monopoly profit: The merger causes production inefficiency (when the downstream rival has a relatively small cost advantage) and the downstream rival still earns an information rent (when it has a relatively large cost advantage). These results also have implications for vertical merger policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Serge Moresi & David Reitman & Steven C. Salop & Yianis Sarafidis, 2021. "Vertical Mergers in a Model of Upstream Monopoly and Incomplete Information," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 59(2), pages 363-380, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:59:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11151-021-09833-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-021-09833-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Roger D. Blair, 2021. "The 2020 Vertical Merger Guidelines," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 59(2), pages 133-138, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Vertical mergers; Monopoly; Foreclosure; Incomplete information; Antitrust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices
    • L42 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Vertical Restraints; Resale Price Maintenance; Quantity Discounts

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