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Competition and the Reference Pricing Scheme for pharmaceuticals

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  • Ghislandi, Simone

Abstract

By introducing n (>1) firms with infinite cross-price elasticity (i.e. generic drugs), we explore the effects of competition on the optimal pricing strategies under a Reference Pricing Scheme (RPS). A two-stage model repeated infinite number of times is presented. When stage 1 is competitive, the equilibrium in pure strategies exists and is efficient only if the reference price (R) does not depend on the price of the branded product. When generics collude, the way R is designed is crucial for both the stability of the cartel among generics and the collusive prices in equilibrium. An optimally designed RPS must set R as a function only of the infinitely elastic side of the market and should provide the right incentives for competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghislandi, Simone, 2011. "Competition and the Reference Pricing Scheme for pharmaceuticals," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 1137-1149.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:30:y:2011:i:6:p:1137-1149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.08.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kurt R. Brekke & Chiara Canta & Odd Rune StraumeAuthor-Email: o.r.straume@eeg.uminho.p, 2015. "Does Reference Pricing Drive Out Generic Competition in Pharmaceutical Markets? Evidence from a Policy Reform," NIPE Working Papers 6/2015, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    2. Unsorg Maximiliane, 2022. "Reference pricing systems on the pharmaceutical market," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 23(3), pages 403-421, August.
    3. Kaiser, Ulrich & Mendez, Susan J. & Rønde, Thomas & Ullrich, Hannes, 2014. "Regulation of pharmaceutical prices: Evidence from a reference price reform in Denmark," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 174-187.
    4. Granlund, David & Bergman, Mats A., 2018. "Price competition in pharmaceuticals – Evidence from 1303 Swedish markets," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-12.
    5. Brekke, Kurt R. & Canta, Chiara & Straume, Odd Rune, 2016. "Reference pricing with endogenous generic entry," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 312-329.
    6. Simone Ghislandi & Patrizio Armeni & Claudio Jommi, 2013. "The impact of generic reference pricing in Italy, a decade on," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(6), pages 959-969, December.
    7. F. Antoñanzas & C. A. Juárez-Castelló & R. Rodríguez-Ibeas, 2017. "Endogenous versus exogenous generic reference pricing for pharmaceuticals," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 413-432, December.
    8. Gregory J. Critchley & Gregory S. Zaric, 2019. "The impact of pharmaceutical marketing on market access, treatment coverage, pricing, and social welfare," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(8), pages 1035-1051, August.
    9. Ricardo Gonçalves & Vasco Rodrigues, 2018. "Reference Pricing with Elastic Demand for Pharmaceuticals," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 120(1), pages 159-182, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rerence pricing; Pharmaceuticals; Generic drugs; Competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L41 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Monopolization; Horizontal Anticompetitive Practices

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