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Can Competition Reduce Quality?

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  • Kurt R. Brekke
  • Luigi Siciliani
  • Odd Rune Straume

Abstract

In a spatial competition setting there is usually a non-negative relationship between competition and quality. In this paper we offer a novel mechanism whereby competition leads to lower quality. This mechanism relies on two key assumptions, namely that the providers are motivated and risk-averse. We show that the negative relationship between competition and quality is robust to any given number of firms in the market and whether quality and price decisions are simultaneous or sequential. We also show that competition may improve social welfare despite the adverse effect on quality. Our proposed mechanism can help explain empirical findings of a negative effect of competition on quality in markets such as health care, long-term care, and higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurt R. Brekke & Luigi Siciliani & Odd Rune Straume, 2014. "Can Competition Reduce Quality?," CESifo Working Paper Series 4629, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_4629
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Market competition and product quality
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2012-04-18 18:15:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Cellini, Roberto & Siciliani, Luigi & Straume, Odd Rune, 2018. "A dynamic model of quality competition with endogenous prices," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 190-206.
    2. Laura Levaggi & Rosella Levaggi, 2017. "Oligopolistic competition for the provision of hospital care," Working papers 57, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    3. Marie‐Louise Leroux & Gregory Ponthiere, 2020. "Nursing home choice, family bargaining, and optimal policy in a Hotelling economy," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(4), pages 899-932, August.
    4. Bauer, Carsten & Möbs, Nele & Unger, Oliver & Szczesny, Andrea & Ernst, Christian, 2020. "Spillover Effects of Specialization Strategies in Hospitals: An Analysis of the Effects in the Short, Medium, and Long Term," EconStor Preprints 215783, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    5. Godager , Geir & Scott, Anthony, 2023. "Physician Behavior and Health Outcomes," HERO Online Working Paper Series 2023:3, University of Oslo, Health Economics Research Programme.
    6. repec:nip:nipewp:08/2015 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Levaggi, Laura & Levaggi, Rosella, 2020. "Is there scope for mixed markets in the provision of hospital care?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    8. Jens Dietrichson & Lina Maria Ellegård & Gustav Kjellsson, 2020. "Patient choice, entry, and the quality of primary care: Evidence from Swedish reforms," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 716-730, June.
    9. Levaggi, Laura & Levaggi, Rosella, 2023. "Competition in the provision of hospital care: Are mixed markets a valid alternative?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    quality and price competition; motivated providers; risk-averse providers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L30 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - General

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