Price caps with capacity precommitment

B-Tier
Journal: International Journal of Industrial Organization
Year: 2017
Volume: 50
Issue: C
Pages: 131-158

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We examine the effectiveness of price caps to regulate imperfectly competitive markets in which the demand is uncertain. To that effect, we study a monopoly that makes irreversible capacity investments ex-ante, and then chooses its output up to capacity upon observing the realization of demand. We show that the optimal price cap must trade off the incentives for capacity investment and capacity withholding, and is above the unit cost of capacity. Moreover, while a price cap provides incentives for capacity investment and mitigates market power, it cannot eliminate inefficiencies. Capacity payments provide a useful complementary instrument.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:indorg:v:50:y:2017:i:c:p:131-158
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26