IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/revind/v50y2017i3d10.1007_s11151-016-9537-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Price Discrimination in Input Markets and Quality Differentiation

Author

Listed:
  • Chin-Sheng Chen

    (Soochow University)

Abstract

This paper examines the welfare implications of input price discrimination in a vertically-related market, which is composed of a monopolistic upstream market and a duopolistic downstream market. The downstream duopolists produce quality-differentiated products at different marginal costs. We show that the equilibrium input prices are closely related to the downstream quality gap and cost difference. When the monopolist simply charges a unit wholesale price for its input product, discriminatory pricing could be socially desirable even though the aggregate output remains unchanged. Nevertheless, if a two-part tariff is feasible, then banning price discrimination could increase the aggregate output and social welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Chin-Sheng Chen, 2017. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets and Quality Differentiation," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 50(3), pages 367-388, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:50:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11151-016-9537-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11151-016-9537-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11151-016-9537-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11151-016-9537-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wauthy, Xavier, 1996. "Quality Choice in Models of Vertical Differentiation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 345-353, September.
    2. German Coloma, 2003. "Price Discrimination and Price Dispersion in the Argentine Gasoline Market," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 169-178.
    3. Roman Inderst & Tommaso Valletti, 2009. "Price discrimination in input markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 40(1), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Valletti, Tommaso M., 2003. "Input price discrimination with downstream Cournot competitors," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 21(7), pages 969-988, September.
    5. Varian, Hal R, 1985. "Price Discrimination and Social Welfare," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(4), pages 870-875, September.
    6. Sofia Berto Villas‐Boas, 2009. "An empirical investigation of the welfare effects of banning wholesale price discrimination," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 40(1), pages 20-46, March.
    7. Motta, Massimo, 1993. "Endogenous Quality Choice: Price vs. Quantity Competition," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 113-131, June.
    8. Fabian Herweg & Daniel Müller, 2012. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Downstream Entry and Efficiency," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 773-799, September.
    9. Roman Inderst & Greg Shaffer, 2009. "Market power, price discrimination, and allocative efficiency in intermediate‐goods markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 40(4), pages 658-672, December.
    10. Kuo-Feng Kao & Cheng-Hau Peng, 2012. "Production efficiency, input price discrimination, and social welfare," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 227-237.
    11. Schmalensee, Richard, 1981. "Output and Welfare Implications of Monopolistic Third-Degree Price Discrimination," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 71(1), pages 242-247, March.
    12. Ralph Siebert, 2015. "Entering New Markets in the Presence of Competition: Price Discrimination versus Cannibalization," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 369-389, June.
    13. Yoshihiro Yoshida, 2000. "Third-Degree Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Output and Welfare," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(1), pages 240-246, March.
    14. Kim, Hyunchul & Sim, Seung-Gyu, 2015. "Price discrimination and sequential contracting in monopolistic input markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 39-42.
    15. Chin-Sheng Chen & Hong Hwang, 2014. "Spatial Price Discrimination in Input Markets with an Endogenous Market Boundary," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 45(2), pages 139-152, September.
    16. Choi, Chong Ju & Shin, Hyun Song, 1992. "A Comment on a Model of Vertical Product Differentiation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(2), pages 229-231, June.
    17. Fabian Herweg & Daniel Müller, 2014. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Quantity Discounts and Private Information," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 124(577), pages 776-804, June.
    18. Katz, Michael L, 1987. "The Welfare Effects of Third-Degree Price Discrimination in," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(1), pages 154-167, March.
    19. Herweg, Fabian & Müller, Daniel, 2016. "Discriminatory nonlinear pricing, fixed costs, and welfare in intermediate-goods markets," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 107-136.
    20. Anil Arya & Brian Mittendorf, 2010. "Input Price Discrimination When Buyers Operate In Multiple Markets," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 846-867, December.
    21. Damien Geradin & Nicolas Petit, 2006. "Price Discrimination Under Ec Competition Law: Another Antitrust Doctrine In Search Of Limiting Principles?," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 2(3), pages 479-531.
    22. DeGraba, Patrick, 1990. "Input Market Price Discrimination and the Choice of Technology," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(5), pages 1246-1253, December.
    23. repec:bla:jindec:v:46:y:1998:i:4:p:511-24 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xingtang Wang & Jie Li, 2020. "Downstream rivals’ competition, bargaining, and welfare," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 61-75, September.
    2. Jiaxin Han & Chenhang Zeng, 2023. "The effects of downstream entry in a vertical mixed oligopoly: the role of input pricing," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 37-61, September.
    3. Wang, Xingtang, 2022. "Input price discrimination, pricing contract and social welfare," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 91-96.
    4. Toshiki Matsuoka, 2023. "Input price discrimination and strategic inventory," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 91(2), pages 118-138, March.
    5. Xingtang Wang & Lin Zhang, 2022. "Monopolistic third-degree price discrimination, welfare, and vertical market structure," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 26(1), pages 75-86, March.
    6. Tsuritani, Ryosuke, 2023. "Strategic Input Price Discrimination with Horizontal Shareholding," MPRA Paper 121176, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Marc Escrihuela‐Villar & Walter Ferrarese, 2022. "Asymmetric input contracts under price leadership," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 90(1), pages 77-91, January.
    8. Ioannis N. Pinopoulos, 2020. "Input Price Discrimination and Upstream R&D Investments," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 57(1), pages 85-106, August.
    9. Chin-Sheng Chen, 2022. "Input Price Discrimination and Allocation Efficiency," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 60(1), pages 93-107, February.
    10. Brito, Duarte & Tselekounis, Markos & Vasconcelos, Helder, 2019. "Input price discrimination in the presence of downstream vertical differentiation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    11. Kangsik Choi & Seonyoung Lim, 2023. "Input Price Discrimination in Endogenous Competition Mode," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 74(2), pages 301-330, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chin-Sheng Chen, 2022. "Input Price Discrimination and Allocation Efficiency," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 60(1), pages 93-107, February.
    2. Youping Li, 2017. "Differential Pricing in Intermediate Good Markets," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(3), pages 585-596, September.
    3. Brito, Duarte & Tselekounis, Markos & Vasconcelos, Helder, 2019. "Input price discrimination in the presence of downstream vertical differentiation," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Ioannis N. Pinopoulos, 2020. "Input Price Discrimination and Upstream R&D Investments," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 57(1), pages 85-106, August.
    5. Wang, Xingtang, 2022. "Input price discrimination, pricing contract and social welfare," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 91-96.
    6. Kangsik Choi & DongJoon Lee & Seonyoung Lim, 2022. "A Note on Input Price Discrimination Under Bertrand Competition: Simultaneous vs. Sequential Contracting," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 61(2), pages 223-246, September.
    7. Chin-Sheng Chen & Hong Hwang, 2014. "Spatial Price Discrimination in Input Markets with an Endogenous Market Boundary," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 45(2), pages 139-152, September.
    8. Fabian Herweg & Daniel Müller, 2014. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Quantity Discounts and Private Information," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 124(577), pages 776-804, June.
    9. Jong-Hee Hahn & Chan KIm, 2018. "Input price discrimination with differentiated final products," Working papers 2018rwp-118, Yonsei University, Yonsei Economics Research Institute.
    10. Li, Youping & Zhang, Jianhu, 2024. "The welfare effects of input price discrimination revisited," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    11. Uğur Akgün & Ioana Chioveanu, 2019. "Wholesale price discrimination: Innovation incentives and upstream competition," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 510-519, June.
    12. Romain Lestage, 2021. "Input price discrimination and non-controlling vertical shareholding," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 226-250, June.
    13. Herweg, Fabian & Müller, Daniel, 2010. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Downstream Entry and Welfare," Bonn Econ Discussion Papers 06/2010, University of Bonn, Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE).
    14. Marie-Laure Allain & Claire Chambolle & Stéphane Turolla, 2022. "The Effect of Input Price Discrimination on Retail Prices: Theory and Evidence from France," Working Papers SMART 22-06, INRAE UMR SMART.
    15. Herweg, Fabian & Müller, Daniel, 2016. "Discriminatory nonlinear pricing, fixed costs, and welfare in intermediate-goods markets," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 107-136.
    16. Adachi, Takanori, 2023. "A sufficient statistics approach for welfare analysis of oligopolistic third‐degree price discrimination," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    17. Aguirre, Iñaki & Yenipazarli, Arda, 2022. "A Rationale for the “Meeting Competition Defense” when Competitive Pressure Varies Across Markets," MPRA Paper 113746, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Asseyer, Andreas, 2020. "Wholesale price discrimination with regulatory asymmetry," Discussion Papers 2020/1, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    19. Fabian Herweg & Daniel Müller, 2012. "Price Discrimination in Input Markets: Downstream Entry and Efficiency," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 773-799, September.
    20. Li, Youping, 2013. "Timing of investments and third degree price discrimination in intermediate good markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 316-320.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Input price discrimination; Wholesale price discrimination; Quality differentiation; Two-part tariffs; Social welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • L12 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:revind:v:50:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11151-016-9537-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.