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Ex-post Merger Evaluation in the U.K. Retail Market for Books

Author

Listed:
  • Aguzzoni, Luca
  • Argentesi, Elena
  • Ciari, Lorenzo
  • Duso, Tomaso
  • Tognoni, Massimo

Abstract

This paper evaluates the price effects of the merger of two major UK book retailers. We use a dataset containing monthly scanner data on a sample of 200 books in 50 local markets for four years around the merger. We compare the price changes after the merger in shops located in areas where both chains were present before the merger and in areas where only one chain was present. We also investigate the country-wide effect of the merger. We find that the merger did not result in any price increase either at the local or at the national level.

Suggested Citation

  • Aguzzoni, Luca & Argentesi, Elena & Ciari, Lorenzo & Duso, Tomaso & Tognoni, Massimo, 2016. "Ex-post Merger Evaluation in the U.K. Retail Market for Books," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 64(1), pages 170-200.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:180821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mergers; Ex-post-Evaluation; Book market; Retail sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K21 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Antitrust Law
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures
    • L44 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Antitrust Policy and Public Enterprise, Nonprofit Institutions, and Professional Organizations
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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