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Approaches to Regulating Interchange Fees in Payment Systems

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  • Gans Joshua S
  • King Stephen P.
Abstract
Significant attention worldwide has been paid to the regulation of credit card interchange fees. In part, this attention has followed concerns expressed about the level of these fees in Europe, the U.S. and Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia recently conducted an extensive inquiry into the interchange fees associated with credit cards and has moved to regulate those fees. At the same time, research economists have considered determinants of the socially optimal interchange fee. In this paper, we use the Australian experience to highlight alternative methods of regulating interchange fees in payments systems. We use a simple model to derive a socially optimal interchange fee when merchants cannot freely set different prices for different payment instruments. We compare the socially optimal interchange fee from this model with those presented in the economics literature and show that most analyses capture a simple externality within the optimal fee. Credit card usage for a specific transaction is determined by the customer. But the customer does not bear the costs or receive the benefits that card usage imposes on the merchant. The optimal interchange fee internalises this externality. We then compare the theoretical optimal interchange fee with the approaches proposed in Australia, and show that the regulatory approach adopted by the Reserve Bank of Australia may be viewed as economically conservative in certain situations. Finally, we consider additional issues that will impinge on the regulation of interchange fees.

Suggested Citation

  • Gans Joshua S & King Stephen P., 2003. "Approaches to Regulating Interchange Fees in Payment Systems," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 2(2), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:rneart:v:2:y:2003:i:2:n:5
    DOI: 10.2202/1446-9022.1022
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert M. Hunt, 2003. "Antitrust issues in payment card networks: can they do that? should we let them?," Business Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, issue Q2, pages 14-23.
    2. ?zlem Bedre-Defolie & Emilio Calvano, 2013. "Pricing Payment Cards," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 5(3), pages 206-231, August.
    3. Julian Wright, 2004. "The Determinants of Optimal Interchange Fees in Payment Systems," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Snellman, Heli, 2006. "Automated teller machine network market structure and cash usage," Scientific Monographs, Bank of Finland, number 2006_038.
    5. Hunt Robert M., 2003. "An Introduction to the Economics of Payment Card Networks," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 2(2), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Negrín José L., 2005. "The Regulation of Payment Cards: The Mexican Experience," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 4(4), pages 1-23, December.
    7. Chakravorti, Sujit & To, Ted, 2007. "A theory of credit cards," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 583-595, June.
    8. Nicholas Economides, 2007. "Nonbanks in the payments system: vertical integration issues," Proceedings – Payments System Research Conferences, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
    9. Fabio M. Manenti & Ernesto Somma, 2011. "Plastic Clashes: Competition Among Closed And Open Payment Systems," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 79(6), pages 1099-1125, December.
    10. Magnus Willesson, 2009. "Pricing of card payment services in Scandinavian banking," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 387-399, March.
    11. David S. Evans & Richard Schmalensee, 2005. "The economics of interchange fees and their regulation : an overview," Proceedings – Payments System Research Conferences, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, issue May, pages 73-120.
    12. Snellman, Heli, 2006. "Automated teller machine network market structure and cash usage," Bank of Finland Scientific Monographs, Bank of Finland, volume 0, number sm2006_038, July.
    13. Egor A. Krivosheya, 2018. "Evaluating Efficient Multilateral Interchange Fees: Evidence from End-User Benefits," HSE Working papers WP BRP 66/FE/2018, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    14. repec:zbw:bofism:2006_038 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Brian Mantel & Timothy McHugh, 2001. "Competition and innovation in the consumer e-payments market? considering the demand, supply, and public policy issues," Occasional Paper; Emerging Payments EPS-2001-4, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    16. Rochet Jean-Charles, 2003. "The Theory of Interchange Fees: A Synthesis of Recent Contributions," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 2(2), pages 1-28, June.

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