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Third-Degree Price Discrimination: Apology Not Necessary

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  • Edward Lopez
  • David Molina

Abstract

Applied work in price discrimination often treats demand curves among multiple market segments as algebraically additive. Yet the welfare effects of multi-market (third degree) price discrimination depend on how the demand segments are added. Treating demands as geometrically additive yields the well known result that discrimination absent an increase in production diminishes Marshallian surplus. But if demands are treated as algebraically additive then discrimination increases welfare over uniform pricing. Quantity is identical in the three cases, so the effect is not due to market opening. Nor is the effect due to scale economies since marginal cost is assumed constant. Profit is always greater under discrimination, so the effect is due to distributional changes in consumer surplus. The model is restricted to linear demands and constant marginal cost but can be generalized for future work and policy analysis. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2010

Suggested Citation

  • Edward Lopez & David Molina, 2010. "Third-Degree Price Discrimination: Apology Not Necessary," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 38(4), pages 383-397, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:38:y:2010:i:4:p:383-397
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-010-9247-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Iñaki Aguirre, 2012. "Third-Degree Price Discrimination: Apology not Necessary _ Comment," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 40(2), pages 185-189, June.

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