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Optimal capacity allocation in a vertical industry

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  • Antelo, Manel
  • Bru, Lluís

Abstract

We examine how a social planner should allocate productive capacity in a downstream industry when, upstream, there is an efficient supplier and a set of less efficient suppliers of an essential input. We show that optimal allocation consists of setting a large quota and small quotas for the remaining capacity. This allows the planner, without necessarily harming consumers, to reap licensing rents above those that would be obtained in a competitive downstream market or under public management of capacity. We also discuss circumstances under which a use-or-lose requirement for the large quota is welfare enhancing or welfare reducing, and under which banning price discrimination in the intermediate market may be socially optimal.

Suggested Citation

  • Antelo, Manel & Bru, Lluís, 2022. "Optimal capacity allocation in a vertical industry," MPRA Paper 113984, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:113984
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/113984/1/MPRA_paper_113984.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Ken Binmore & Paul Klemperer, 2002. "The Biggest Auction Ever: the Sale of the British 3G Telecom Licences," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(478), pages 74-96, March.
    4. Krishna, Kala, 1993. "Theoretical Implications of Imperfect Competition on Quota License Prices and Auctions," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 7(1), pages 113-136, January.
    5. Eric Maskin & Chenggang Xu, 2001. "Soft budget constraint theories: From centralization to the market," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 9(1), pages 1-27, March.
    6. Bertero, Elisabetta & Rondi, Laura, 2000. "Financial pressure and the behaviour of public enterprises under soft and hard budget constraints: evidence from Italian panel data," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 73-98, January.
    7. Gahvari, Firouz, 1989. "Licensing and Nontransferable Rents: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(4), pages 906-909, September.
    8. Ian Gale & Daniel P. O'Brien, 2013. "The Welfare Effects of Use-or-Lose Provisions in Markets with Dominant Firms," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 5(1), pages 175-193, February.
    9. Karl-Kiên Cao & Johannes Metzdorf & Sinan Birbalta, 2018. "Incorporating Power Transmission Bottlenecks into Aggregated Energy System Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-32, June.
    10. Cunha, Luis Campos e & Santos, Vasco, 1996. "Sleeping quotas, pre-emptive quota bidding and monopoly power," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-2), pages 127-148, February.
    11. Lott, John R, Jr, 1987. "Licensing and Nontransferable Rents," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(3), pages 453-455, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capacity allocation; dominant firm; use-or-lose requirement; price discrimination; quota licence; soft-budget constraint;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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