The Competitive Impact of Vertical Integration by Multiproduct Firms

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2020
Volume: 110
Issue: 7
Pages: 2041-64

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the impact of vertical integration on pricing incentives in multiproduct industries. To do so, we exploit recent variation in vertical structure in the US carbonated-beverage industry. While the elimination of double marginalization with vertical integration is normally characterized as procompetitive, economic theory predicts that it may cause anticompetitive price increases in multiproduct industries. We indeed find that vertical integration causes price decreases in products with eliminated double margins but price increases in the other products sold by the integrated firm. These results provide new evidence of anticompetitive effects of vertical mergers.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:110:y:2020:i:7:p:2041-64
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25