QUALITY DIFFERENCES, THIRD-DEGREE PRICE DISCRIMINATION, AND WELFARE.

We propose a model with two markets to analyze the welfare implications of price discrimination with quality differences. In each market a local firm that operates in that market only competes against a global firm that operates in both markets. Local firms produce higher-quality goods than the glob...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Economic Inquiry Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 339 - 352
Autores principales: Galera, Francisco, Mendi, Pedro, Molero, Juan Carlos
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Jan2017
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:We propose a model with two markets to analyze the welfare implications of price discrimination with quality differences. In each market a local firm that operates in that market only competes against a global firm that operates in both markets. Local firms produce higher-quality goods than the global firm. If the quality levels of the local firms' products are the same, price discrimination is never welfare-decreasing. If they differ, discrimination is welfare-increasing if quantity increases. Because of a positive allocation effect of price discrimination, there are parameter values such that welfare increases while total output decreases with price discrimination. ( JEL D43, D60)