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The Perils of Antitrust Econometrics: Unrealistic Engel Curves, Inadequate Data, and Aggregation Bias

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  • Gabriel A. Lozada

    (University of Utah)

Abstract

Some economists argue antitrust policy should be based on empirical methods used by the Industrial Organization subdiscipline of economics, but non-economists must understand that those methods contain certain highly restrictive assumptions. Those assumptions involve econometric "identification," and treating aggregate demand as if it were generated by a representative consumer (Muellbauer's "generalized linear" preferences). We derive new results illustrating how restrictive the representative consumer assumption is; we explain aggregation bias in Almost Ideal Demand System models; and we show that data limitations make it even harder to justify economists' restricting aggregate demands as one would the demand of a single individual.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel A. Lozada, 2023. "The Perils of Antitrust Econometrics: Unrealistic Engel Curves, Inadequate Data, and Aggregation Bias," Working Papers Series inetwp203, Institute for New Economic Thinking.
    • Handle: RePEc:thk:wpaper:inetwp203
    DOI: 10.36687/inetwp203
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Blundell, Richard & Stoker, Thomas M., 2007. "Models of Aggregate Economic Relationships that Account for Heterogeneity," Handbook of Econometrics, in: J.J. Heckman & E.E. Leamer (ed.), Handbook of Econometrics, edition 1, volume 6, chapter 68, Elsevier.
    2. Barnett, William A. & Serletis, Apostolos, 2008. "Consumer preferences and demand systems," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 147(2), pages 210-224, December.
    3. Barnett, William A. & Serletis, Apostolos, 2008. "Measuring Consumer Preferences and Estimating Demand Systems," MPRA Paper 12318, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Stoker, Thomas M, 1993. "Empirical Approaches to the Problem of Aggregation Over Individuals," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 31(4), pages 1827-1874, December.
    5. John Muellbauer, 1975. "Aggregation, Income Distribution and Consumer Demand," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 42(4), pages 525-543.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jung Min Lee & Chanjin Chung, 2024. "Estimating Market Power Exertion in the U.S. Beef Packing Industry: An Illustration of Data Aggregation Bias Using Simulated Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-19, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Antitrust econometrics; Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS); New Brandeis School;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • C43 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Index Numbers and Aggregation
    • L4 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies
    • C54 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Quantitative Policy Modeling

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