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Retail Gasoline Price Cycles across Spatially Dispersed Gasoline Stations

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  • Eckert, Andrew
  • West, Douglas S

Abstract

Studies of volatility in retail gasoline prices have used either weekly averages of the prices at a small subset of stations in a city or daily observations on prices at a small number of stations. This paper uses daily observations on station-specific prices within a large Canadian metropolitan area to address whether weekly average prices or prices for a small number of stations provide an accurate description of pricing in a market with volatility. This paper considers whether researchers using restricted data can draw meaningful conclusions about the appropriate theoretical model and the policy response to allegations of anticompetitive behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Eckert, Andrew & West, Douglas S, 2004. "Retail Gasoline Price Cycles across Spatially Dispersed Gasoline Stations," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 47(1), pages 245-273, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:y:2004:v:47:i:1:p:245-73
    DOI: 10.1086/380474
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    References listed on IDEAS

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