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Estimating damages from price-fixing: The value of transaction data

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  • Hüschelrath, Kai
  • Müller, Kathrin
  • Veith, Tobias

Abstract

We use a unique private data set of about 340,000 invoice positions from 36 smaller and larger customers of German cement producers to study the value of such transaction data for an estimation of cartel damages. In particular, we investigate, first, how structural break analysis can be used to identify the exact end of the cartel agreement and, second, how an application of before-and-after approaches to estimate the price overcharge can benefit from such rich data sets. We conclude that transaction data allows such a detailed assessment of the cartel and its impact on direct customers that its regular application in private antitrust cases is desired as long as data collection and preparation procedures are not prohibitively expensive.

Suggested Citation

  • Hüschelrath, Kai & Müller, Kathrin & Veith, Tobias, 2012. "Estimating damages from price-fixing: The value of transaction data," ZEW Discussion Papers 12-036, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:12036
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John M. Connor, 2008. "Forensic Economics: An Introduction With Special Emphasis On Price Fixing," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 4(1), pages 31-59.
    2. Kai Hüschelrath & Tobias Veith, 2014. "Cartel Detection in Procurement Markets," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(6), pages 404-422, September.
    3. Hans W. Friederiszick & Lars-Hendrik Röller, 2010. "Quantification Of Harm In Damages Actions For Antitrust Infringements: Insights From German Cartel Cases," Journal of Competition Law and Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 6(3), pages 595-618.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Hunold & Kai Hüschelrath & Ulrich Laitenberger & Johannes Muthers, 2020. "Competition, Collusion, and Spatial Sales Patterns: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(4), pages 737-779, December.
    2. Joseph E. Harrington & Kai Hüschelrath & Ulrich Laitenberger, 2018. "Rent sharing to control noncartel supply in the German cement market," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 149-166, March.

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    Keywords

    antitrust policy; private enforcement; cartels; overcharge; damages; cement;
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