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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Markup Estimation

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  • Maarten De Ridder
  • Basile Grassi
  • Giovanni Morzenti

Abstract

Macroeconomic outcomes depend on the distribution of markups across firms and over time, making firm-level markup estimates key for macroeconomic analysis. Methods to obtain these estimates require data on the prices that firms charge. Firm-level data with wide coverage, however, primarily comes from financial statements, which lack information on prices. We use an analytical framework to show that trends in markups or the dispersion of markups across firms can still be well-measured with such data. Finding the average level of the markup does require pricing data, and we propose a consistent estimator for such settings. We validate the analytical results with simulations of a quantitative macroeconomic model and firm-level administrative production and pricing data. Our analysis supports the use of financial data to measure trends in aggregate markups. Keywords: Macroeconomics, Production Functions, Markups, Competition

Suggested Citation

  • Maarten De Ridder & Basile Grassi & Giovanni Morzenti, 2021. "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Markup Estimation," Working Papers 677, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:igi:igierp:677
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    Cited by:

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    3. Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos & López-Calva, Luis Felipe & Barriga-Cabanillas, Oscar, 2023. "Market concentration, trade exposure, and firm productivity in developing countries: Evidence from Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    4. David Van Dijcke, 2022. "On the Non-Identification of Revenue Production Functions," Papers 2212.04620, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2023.
    5. Jannik Hensel & Giacomo Mangiante & Luca Moretti, 2023. "Carbon Pricing and Inflation Expectations: Evidence from France," CESifo Working Paper Series 10552, CESifo.
    6. Mertens, Matthias & Mottironi, Bernardo, 2023. "Do larger firms exert more market power? Markups and markdowns along the size distribution," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121283, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Eren Gürer & Pınar Derin Güre, 2024. "Evolution of Markups in the Manufacturing Industry of Turkiye," ERC Working Papers 2401, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Mar 2024.
    8. Shuichiro Nishioka & Mari Tanaka, 2022. "The Scope of Variable Inputs and Markup Estimates," Working Papers 23-01, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    9. Christian Reiner & Christian Bellak, 2023. "Hat die ökonomische Macht von Unternehmen in Österreich zugenommen? Teil 2," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 49(2), pages 17-76.
    10. Thomas Hasenzagl & Luis Perez, 2023. "The Micro-Aggregated Profit Share," Papers 2309.12945, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    11. Ricardo Marto, 2023. "Structural Change and the Rise in Markups," Working Papers 2024-002, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
    12. Yannick Bormans & Angelos Theodorakopoulos, 2023. "Productivity dispersion, wage dispersion and superstar firms," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(360), pages 1145-1172, October.
    13. Kouvavas, Omiros & Osbat, Chiara & Reinelt, Timo & Vansteenkiste, Isabel, 2021. "Markups and inflation cyclicality in the euro area," Working Paper Series 2617, European Central Bank.

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    macroeconomics; production functions; markups; competition;
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