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Are big mergers welfare enhancing when there is environmental externality?

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  • Fikru, Mahelet G.
  • Gautier, Luis

Abstract

Previous studies find that horizontal merger deals that consolidate a majority of firms in the market are likely to reduce welfare. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between the size of a merger and welfare in industries with environmental externality. In an international framework we show that in a market where more than 50% of firms have merged, a further increase in the size of the merger could increase or decrease welfare depending on two previously unexplored factors: (i) a given threshold of size of a merger and (ii) the pollution intensity of firms. Furthermore, we show that the relationship between welfare and size of merger can be affected by an exogenous change in emission tax at home and in a foreign country.

Suggested Citation

  • Fikru, Mahelet G. & Gautier, Luis, 2020. "Are big mergers welfare enhancing when there is environmental externality?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:87:y:2020:i:c:s0140988320300578
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2020.104718
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    19. Fikru, Mahelet G. & Lahiri, Sajal, 2014. "Cross-border mergers with flexible policy regime: The role of efficiency and market size," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-70.
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    1. Hu, Jun & Fang, Qi & Wu, Huiying, 2023. "Environmental tax and highly polluting firms' green transformation: Evidence from green mergers and acquisitions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    2. Luis Gautier & Mahelet G. Fikru, 2024. "Welfare Impact of New Firm Acquisition," Natural Resource Management and Policy, in: Handbook of Merger Control and Environmental Policy, chapter 0, pages 105-132, Springer.
    3. Choi, Pak-Sing & Espínola-Arredondo, Ana & Muñoz-García, Félix, 2022. "Environmental policy helping antitrust decisions: Socially excessive and insufficient merger approvals," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    4. Haucap, Justus & Stiebale, Joel, 2023. "Non-price effects of mergers and acquisitions," DICE Discussion Papers 402, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    5. Erdős, Katalin & Baczur, Roland & Kehl, Dániel & Farkas, Richárd, 2022. "When post-merger price effect becomes smoothed over time: A case of a gasoline market merger," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).

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