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The Hitchhiker's guide to markup estimation

Author

Listed:
  • Basile Grassi
  • Giovanni Morzenti
  • Maarten de Ridder
Abstract
Is it feasible to estimate firm-level markups with commonly available datasets? Common methods to measure markups hinge on a production function estimation, but most datasets do not contain data on the quantity that firms produce. We use a tractable analytical framework, simulation from a quantitative model, and firm-level administrative production and pricing data to study the biases in markup estimates that may arise as a result. While the level of markup estimates from revenue data is biased, these estimates do correlate highly with true markups. They also display similar correlations with variables such as profitability and market share in our data. Finally, we show that imposing a Cobb-Douglas production function or simplifying the production function estimation may reduce the informativeness of markup estimates.

Suggested Citation

  • Basile Grassi & Giovanni Morzenti & Maarten de Ridder, 2022. "The Hitchhiker's guide to markup estimation," POID Working Papers 063, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:poidwp:063
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Geoffrey Barrows & Hélène Ollivier & Ariell Reshef, 2023. "Production Function Estimation with Multi-Destination Firms," CESifo Working Paper Series 10716, CESifo.
    2. Axelle Arquié & Malte Thie, 2023. "Energy, Inflation and Market Power: Excess Pass-Through in France," Working Papers 2023-16, CEPII research center.
    3. Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos & López-Calva, Luis Felipe & Barriga-Cabanillas, Oscar, 2023. "Market concentration, trade exposure, and firm productivity in developing countries: Evidence from Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    4. David Van Dijcke, 2022. "On the Non-Identification of Revenue Production Functions," Papers 2212.04620, arXiv.org, revised May 2024.
    5. Jannik Hensel & Giacomo Mangiante & Luca Moretti, 2023. "Carbon Pricing and Inflation Expectations: Evidence from France," CESifo Working Paper Series 10552, CESifo.
    6. Romain Duval & Davide Furceri & Raphaël Lee & Marina M. Tavares, 2024. "Market power and monetary policy transmission," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 91(362), pages 669-700, April.
    7. Mertens, Matthias & Mottironi, Bernardo, 2023. "Do larger firms exert more market power? Markups and markdowns along the size distribution," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121283, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Siying Ding & Ahmad Lashkaripour & Volodymyr Lugovskyy, 2024. "A Global Perspective on the Incidence of Monopoly Distortions," CESifo Working Paper Series 11211, CESifo.
    9. Eren Gürer & Pınar Derin Güre, 2024. "Evolution of Markups in the Manufacturing Industry of Turkiye," ERC Working Papers 2401, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Mar 2024.
    10. Shuichiro Nishioka & Mari Tanaka, 2022. "The Scope of Variable Inputs and Markup Estimates," Working Papers 23-01, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    11. Christian Reiner & Christian Bellak, 2023. "Hat die ökonomische Macht von Unternehmen in Österreich zugenommen? Teil 2," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 49(2), pages 17-76.
    12. Thomas Hasenzagl & Luis Perez, 2023. "The Micro-Aggregated Profit Share," Papers 2309.12945, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    13. Ricardo Marto, 2023. "Structural Change and the Rise in Markups," Working Papers 2024-002, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
    14. Yannick Bormans & Angelos Theodorakopoulos, 2023. "Productivity dispersion, wage dispersion and superstar firms," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(360), pages 1145-1172, October.
    15. Kouvavas, Omiros & Osbat, Chiara & Reinelt, Timo & Vansteenkiste, Isabel, 2021. "Markups and inflation cyclicality in the euro area," Working Paper Series 2617, European Central Bank.

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    Keywords

    Macroeconomics; Production Functions; Markups; Competition;
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