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Retailer entry conditions and wholesaler conduct: The theatrical distribution of motion pictures

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  • Moul, Charles C.

Abstract

I add to the empirical literature on vertical contracting and wholesaler conduct by using retailer entry conditions to infer unobserved choice variables and equilibrium responses to prices and advertising. After estimating the US demand for theatrical motion pictures from 1990-96, I apply these techniques to compare observed outcomes to predictions under various distributor-conduct hypotheses. While several caveats apply, results indicate that the hypothesis of competition among distributors fails to describe advertising levels or aggregate payments of theaters to studios. The hypothesis of some collusion among distributors, however, matches the data fairly well.

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  • Moul, Charles C., 2008. "Retailer entry conditions and wholesaler conduct: The theatrical distribution of motion pictures," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 966-983, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:26:y:2008:i:4:p:966-983
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    Cited by:

    1. Dapeng Liu & Pascal Courty, 2022. "Some economics of movie exhibition: increasing returns and Imax revenue premium," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 46(4), pages 597-634, December.
    2. Georgios Alaveras & Estrella Gomez-Herrera & Bertin Martens, 2018. "Cross-border circulation of films and cultural diversity in the EU," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 42(4), pages 645-676, November.
    3. In Kyung Kim, 2021. "The impact of social distancing on box-office revenue: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Quantitative Marketing and Economics (QME), Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 93-125, March.
    4. In Kyung Kim & Vladyslav Nora, 2017. "Does Vertical Integration Enhance Non-Price Efficiency? Evidence from the Movie Theater Industry," Working Papers 1701, Nazarbayev University, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2018.
    5. James G. Mulligan & Daniel J. Wedzielewski, 2012. "Government Intervention to Prevent Bankruptcy: the Effect of Blind-Bidding Laws on Movie Theaters," Working Papers 12-03, University of Delaware, Department of Economics.
    6. de Roos, Nicolas & McKenzie, Jordi, 2014. "Cheap Tuesdays and the demand for cinema," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 93-109.
    7. Juan Prieto-Rodriguez & Fernanda Gutierrez-Navratil & Victoria Ateca-Amestoy, 2015. "Theatre allocation as a distributor’s strategic variable over movie runs," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 39(1), pages 65-83, February.
    8. Fernanda Gutiérrez-Navratil & Víctor Fernández-Blanco & Luis Orea Sánchez & Juan Prieto Rodríguez, 2017. "Do Movie Majors Really Collude? Indirect Evidence from Release Schedules," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 221(2), pages 9-31, June.
    9. Li, Jia & Moul, Charles C., 2015. "Who should handle retail? Vertical contracts, customer service, and social welfare in a Chinese mobile phone market," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 29-43.

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