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Cost effects of mergers and deregulation in the U.S. Rail industry

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  • Ernst Berndt
  • Ann Friedlaender
  • Judy Chiang
  • Christopher Vellturo

Abstract

We attempt to disentangle the effects of deregulation on rail costs from those directly attributable to mergers and acquisitions, employing a translog variable cost function, based on an unbalanced panel data set of annual observations for major U.S. Class I railroads from 1974 to 1986. We find that both deregulation and mergers contributed significantly to cost savings. However, of the accumulated cost savings achieved by the six major firms involved in mergers postderegulation, we estimate that by 1986 about 91% of the reduction in accumulated costs is due to deregulation, and about 9% is directly due to mergers and acquisitions (which in turn were facilitated by regulatory reforms). Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1993

Suggested Citation

  • Ernst Berndt & Ann Friedlaender & Judy Chiang & Christopher Vellturo, 1993. "Cost effects of mergers and deregulation in the U.S. Rail industry," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 127-144, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:4:y:1993:i:1:p:127-144
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01073470
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Levin, Richard C & Weinberg, Daniel H, 1979. "Alternatives for Restructuring the Railroads: End-to-End or Parallel Mergers?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 17(3), pages 371-388, July.
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    3. Ann F. Friedlaender & Ernst R. Berndt & Judy Shaw-Er Wang Chiang & Mark Showalter & Christopher A. Vellturo, 1991. "Rail Costs and Capital Adjustments in a Quasi-Regulated Environment," NBER Working Papers 3841, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Berndt, Ernst R & Savin, N Eugene, 1975. "Estimation and Hypothesis Testing in Singular Equation Systems with Autoregressive Disturbances," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 43(5-6), pages 937-957, Sept.-Nov.
    5. Harris, Robert G & Winston, Clifford M, 1983. "Potential Benefits of Rail Mergers: An Econometric Analysis of Network Effects on Service Quality," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 65(1), pages 32-40, February.
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