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Asymmetric Cost Pass-Through? Empirical Evidence on the Role of Market Power, Search and Menu Costs

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  • Loy, Jens-Peter
  • Glauben, Thomas
  • Weiss, Christoph
Abstract
We estimate cost pass-through rates based on data for store-level retail prices and wholesale costs. The data allows us to identify heterogeneity in cost pass-through across retailers and relate it to underlying explanatory factors such as retailer market power, measures of consumer search and menu costs. Results from a threshold-errorcorrection- model clearly provide empirical support for the ‘rockets and feathers’ phenomenon. In contrast to much of the literature which explains the ‘rockets and feathers’ phenomenon as a result of retailers’ market power, we find contrary find that the degree of asymmetry between costs and prices is negatively related to a measure of market power.

Suggested Citation

  • Loy, Jens-Peter & Glauben, Thomas & Weiss, Christoph, 2015. "Asymmetric Cost Pass-Through? Empirical Evidence on the Role of Market Power, Search and Menu Costs," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212156, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:iaae15:212156
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.212156
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    3. Thomas Bittmann & Jens-Peter Loy, 2021. "Price transmission and cost pass-through on the German dairy value chain," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 22(3), pages 84-102, October.
    4. Nilsen Øivind A. & Pettersen Per Marius & Bratlie Joakim, 2018. "Time-Dependency in Producers’ Price Adjustments: Evidence from Micro Panel Data," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 69(2), pages 147-168, August.
    5. Øivind A. Nilsen & Magne Vange, 2019. "Intermittent Price Changes in Production Plants: Empirical Evidence Using Monthly Data," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 81(1), pages 98-122, February.
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    10. Rrukaj, Ritvana & Steen, Frode, 2024. "Asymmetric cost transmission and market power in retail gasoline markets," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 8/2024, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
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    12. von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2021. "Vertikale Preisbeziehungen - Beziehungen zwischen Erzeuger- und Verbraucherpreisen," IAMO Discussion Papers 310088, Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
    13. Antonioli, Federico & Santeramo, Fabio Gaetano, 2022. "On Policy Interventions and Vertical Price Transmission: The Italian Milk Supply Chain Case," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 47(2), May.
    14. Bittmann, Thomas & Loy, Jens-Peter & Anders, Sven, 2017. "Cost Pass-Through And Product Differentiation," 2017 International Congress, August 28-September 1, 2017, Parma, Italy 261145, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Dagoumas, Athanasios S. & Polemis, Michael L., 2020. "Carbon pass-through in the electricity sector: An econometric analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    16. Daniele Cavicchioli & Luca Cacchiarelli & Alessandro Sorrentino & Roberto Pretolani, 2022. "Should We Cry over the Spilt Milk? Market Power and Structural Change along Dairy Supply Chains in EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
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    19. Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta & Giuseppe Lubrano Lavadera & Francesco Pastore, 2022. "The Effect of Job–Education Vertical Mismatch on Wages Among Recent PhD Graduates: Evidence From an Instrumental Variable Analysis," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 8(1), pages 197-225, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural and Food Policy; Consumer/Household Economics;

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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