Distribution of the benefits of regulation vs. competition: The case of mobile telephony in South Africa

B-Tier
Journal: International Journal of Industrial Organization
Year: 2021
Volume: 74
Issue: C

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 test for the distributional effects of regulation and entry in the mobile telecommunications sector in a highly unequal country, South Africa. Using six waves of a consumer survey of over 134,000 individuals between 2009–2014, we estimate a discrete choice model allowing for individual-specific price-responsiveness and preferences for network operators. Next, we use a demand and supply equilibrium framework to simulate prices and the distribution of welfare without entry and mobile termination rate regulation. We find that, in the South African context, regulation benefits consumers significantly more than entry does, and that high-income consumers and city-dwellers benefit more in terms of increased consumer surplus.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:indorg:v:74:y:2021:i:c:s0167718720300965
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25