Can competition keep the restrooms clean? Price, quality and spatial competition

B-Tier
Journal: Regional Science and Urban Economics
Year: 2017
Volume: 64
Issue: C
Pages: 117-136

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

This article investigates the influence of competition on price and product quality among Austrian camping sites, a market characterized by both horizontal (spatial) and vertical product differentiation. Theoretically, the effect of competition on quality is ambiguous and depends on the degree of cost substitutability between output and quality. Estimating a system of equations shows that intense competition has a positive impact on product quality and a negative effect on prices (conditional on quality). As high quality is associated with high prices, the total effect of competition on prices is rather small.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:regeco:v:64:y:2017:i:c:p:117-136
Journal Field
Urban
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29