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Product Liability Influences Incentives for Horizontal Mergers

Author

Listed:
  • Eric Langlais

    (EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Andreea Cosnita-Langlais

    (EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Tim Friehe

    (EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This paper shows how product liability rules influence merger incentives. Consumers' misperception of product risk critically influences which liability rule induces the strongest merger incentives. When consumers overestimate product risk, merger incentives under negligence and strict liability are similar and weaker than under no liability. When consumers underestimate product risk, merger incentives under negligence are weaker than those under strict liability but stronger than those under no liability.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Langlais & Andreea Cosnita-Langlais & Tim Friehe, 2024. "Product Liability Influences Incentives for Horizontal Mergers," Working Papers hal-04516113, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04516113
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04516113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Liability; Merger; Cournot; Market Structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K13 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Tort Law and Product Liability; Forensic Economics
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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