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Markups and Inflation in Oligopolistic Markets: Evidence from Wholesale Price Data

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  • Patrick Alexander
  • Lu Han
  • Oleksiy Kryvtsov
  • Ben Tomlin

Abstract

We study how the interaction of market power and nominal price rigidity influences inflation dynamics. We formulate a tractable model of oligopolistic competition and sticky prices and derive closed-form expressions for the pass-through of idiosyncratic and common cost shocks to firms’ prices. Using unpublished micro data for Canadian wholesale firms, we estimate that the pass-through of idiosyncratic costs is incomplete at 70% and independent of the degree of sector-price-stickiness. The pass-through of common costs declines with price stickiness, from nearly complete in flexible-price sectors to below 70% in sectors with the stickiest prices. An increase in the degree of sector or firm market power reduces the pass-through of both types of cost shocks. These estimates imply a degree of strategic complementarity that lowers the slope of the New Keynesian Phillips curve by 30% in a one-sector model and by 74% in a multi-sector model.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Alexander & Lu Han & Oleksiy Kryvtsov & Ben Tomlin, 2024. "Markups and Inflation in Oligopolistic Markets: Evidence from Wholesale Price Data," Staff Working Papers 24-20, Bank of Canada.
    • Handle: RePEc:bca:bocawp:24-20
    DOI: 10.34989/swp-2024-20
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emi Nakamura & Dawit Zerom, 2010. "Accounting for Incomplete Pass-Through," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 77(3), pages 1192-1230.
    2. Peter J. Klenow & Oleksiy Kryvtsov, 2008. "State-Dependent or Time-Dependent Pricing: Does it Matter for Recent U.S. Inflation?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 123(3), pages 863-904.
    3. Brent, Neiman, 2011. "A state-dependent model of intermediate goods pricing," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Burstein, Ariel T. & Neves, Joao C. & Rebelo, Sergio, 2003. "Distribution costs and real exchange rate dynamics during exchange-rate-based stabilizations," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(6), pages 1189-1214, September.
    5. Sharat Ganapati, 2025. "The Modern Wholesaler: Global Sourcing, Domestic Distribution, and Scale Economies," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(1), pages 1-40, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mishel Ghassibe & Boromeus Wanengkirtyo & Ivan Yotzov, 2025. "Intertemporal Pass-Through," Working Papers 1524, Barcelona School of Economics.
    2. Oscar Perello, 2025. "Trade Intermediation and Resilience in Global Sourcing," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2503, CEPREMAP.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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