Merger review for markets with buyer power
Journal Article (Journal Article)
We analyze the competitive effects of mergers in markets with buyer power. Using mechanism design arguments, we show that without cost synergies, mergers harm buyers, regardless of buyer power. However, buyer power mitigates the harm to a buyer from a merger of symmetric suppliers. With buyer power, a merger increases incentives for entry, increases investment incentives for rivals, and can increase investment incentives for merging parties. Because buyer power reduces the profitability of a merger, it increases the profitability of perfect collusion relative to a merger. Cost synergies can eliminate merger harm but also render otherwise profitable mergers unprofitable.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Loertscher, S; Marx, LM
Published Date
- December 1, 2019
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 127 / 6
Start / End Page
- 2967 - 3017
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1537-534X
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-3808
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1086/702173
Citation Source
- Scopus