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Are online markets more integrated than traditional markets? Evidence from consumer electronics

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  • Duch-Brown, Néstor
  • Grzybowski, Lukasz
  • Romahn, André
  • Verboven, Frank

Abstract

Did the Internet make international markets more integrated? To address this question, we study long-term international price differences and their speed of convergence, based on a unique data base for identical goods sold in both online and traditional “brick-and-mortar” distribution channels, covering ten European countries. We find that long-term international price differences are closely comparable between both distribution channels. Furthermore, international price differences converge only slightly faster online than offline, and the differences in the international price differences between online and offline converge at a very fast rate. Finally, regardless of the distribution channel, long-term price differences are lower and converge faster within the same currency union. Our findings imply that online markets are currently not more integrated than traditional markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Duch-Brown, Néstor & Grzybowski, Lukasz & Romahn, André & Verboven, Frank, 2021. "Are online markets more integrated than traditional markets? Evidence from consumer electronics," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:131:y:2021:i:c:s0022199621000532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2021.103476
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    Cited by:

    1. Vladimir Fedoseev & Svetlana Fedoseeva, 2022. "Same DNA, same location, same price? Price differences across distribution e‐channels of a single online retailer," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(4), pages 874-884, October.
    2. Keith Head & Thierry Mayer, 2021. "The United States of Europe: A Gravity Model Evaluation of the Four Freedoms," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(2), pages 23-48, Spring.
    3. Néstor Duch-Brown & Lukasz Grzybowski & André Romahn & Frank Verboven, 2023. "Evaluating the Impact of Online Market Integration—Evidence from the EU Portable PC Market," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 268-305, November.
    4. Hoste, J. & Verboven, F., 2024. "Uncovering the Sources of Cross-border Market Segmentation: Evidence from the EU and the US," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2402, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International price differences; International price convergence; Difference-in-difference convergence; Market integration; E-commerce;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L68 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Appliances; Furniture; Other Consumer Durables
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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