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Barriers to retail competition and prices: evidence from Spain

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  • Alexander W. Hoffmaister

Abstract

Why do prices in Spain's regions fail to converge? The prime suspects for this puzzling result are differences in regional barriers to entry in retail distribution. This paper develops a Cournot-Nash model of imperfect competition to illustrate the effect of barriers on prices. A unique data set--derived from an extensive analysis of competition policies in Spain--provides evidence that barriers to entry increase regional prices. The evidence also suggests that, consistent with the model's predictions, barriers to entry raise prices up to a point, and thus indicate that barriers have a threshold effect on prices. Copyright 2010 Oxford University Press 2009 All rights reserved, Oxford University Press.

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  • Alexander W. Hoffmaister, 2010. "Barriers to retail competition and prices: evidence from Spain," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 62(2), pages 395-416, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:62:y:2010:i:2:p:395-416
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    Cited by:

    1. Orea, Luis, 2009. "Legal and political barriers to entry in the Spanish retail market: a frontier approach," Efficiency Series Papers 2009/03, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
    2. Orea, Luis, 2009. "Entry efficiency and barriers to entry in the Spanish retail market," Efficiency Series Papers 2009/02, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
    3. Luis Orea, 2010. "The effect of legal barriers to entry in the Spanish retail market: a local market approach," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 193(2), pages 49-74, June.
    4. Javier de la Ballina Ballina & Rodolfo Vázquez, 2015. "El papel de las bluelaws en los modelos de evolución de los for¬matos comerciales," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 213(2), pages 63-82, June.
    5. M.ª de los Llanos Matea & Juan S. Mora, 2009. "Developments in retail trade regulation in Spain and their macroeconomic implications," Working Papers 0908, Banco de España.

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