Anticompetitive Bundling When Buyers Compete

B-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Year: 2024
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 293-328

Authors (2)

Alexandre de Cornière (not in RePEc) Greg Taylor (Oxford University → Oxford Int...)

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 study the profitability of bundling by an upstream firm that licenses technologies to downstream competitors and that faces competition for one of its technologies. In an otherwise standard "Chicago-style" model, the existence of downstream competition can make inefficient bundling profitable. Forcing downstream firms to use an inefficient technology reassures each one that it will face weak competition. This allows the upstream firm to extract more profit through its monopolized technology. A similar logic can make it profitable to degrade interoperability with rival technologies, even without foreclosing competition. Bundling is most profitable when downstream competition is intense and technologies complementary.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejmic:v:16:y:2024:i:1:p:293-328
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29