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Virtual Capacity and Competition

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  • Christian Schultz

Abstract

In several European merger cases competition authorities have demanded that the merging firm auctions off virtual capacity. The buyer of virtual capacity receives an option on an amount of output at a pre-specified price, typically equal to marginal cost. This output is sold in the market in competition with the merging firm. The paper compares sale of physical and virtual capacity by the merging firm and shows that virtual capacity leads to a less competitive outcome. The merging firm can build up a reputation for producing little, so that the output price increases in the market, and this increases the auction price on virtual capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Schultz, 2005. "Virtual Capacity and Competition," CESifo Working Paper Series 1487, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_1487
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    File URL: https://www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp1487.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ausubel, Lawrence M. & Cramton, Peter, 2010. "Virtual power plant auctions," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 201-208, December.
    2. de Frutos, María-Ángeles & Fabra, Natalia, 2012. "How to allocate forward contracts: The case of electricity markets," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 451-469.
    3. Fabra, Natalia & de Frutos, Maria-Angeles, 2008. "On the Impact of Forward Contract Obligations in Multi-Unit Auctions," CEPR Discussion Papers 6756, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Felix Höffler & Sebastian Kranz, 2015. "Using Forward Contracts to Reduce Regulatory Capture," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(4), pages 598-624, December.
    5. Gonzales-Eiras, Martín & Niepelt, Dirk, 2004. "Sustaining Social Security," Seminar Papers 731, Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies.
    6. Federico, Giulio & López, Ángel L., 2013. "Optimal asset divestments with homogeneous products," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 12-25.
    7. Federico, Giulio & Lopez, Angel L., 2009. "Divesting power," IESE Research Papers D/812, IESE Business School.
    8. Mariusz Swora & Jacek KamiÅ„ski, 2017. "Bringing in Liquidity and Transparency when the Power Sector is Consolidated: The Duty to Trade on the Power Exchange," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 8(1).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    virtual capacity; reputation; tacit collusion; antitrust; mergers; competition policy;
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