Discussion paper

DP12813 Search and Equilibrium Prices: Theory and Evidence from Retail Diesel

We examine the relation between consumer search and equilibrium prices when collusion in endogenously determined. We develop a theoretical model and show that average price is a U-shaped function of the measure of searchers: prices are highest when there are no searchers (local monopoly power) or when there are many searchers (and sellers opt to collude). We test this prediction with diesel retail prices in Dortmund, Germany. We estimate a U-shaped relation with statistical precision and a Euro .025/liter price variation due to the variation in the measure of searchers.

£6.00
Citation

Cabral, L, D Schober and O Woll (2018), ‘DP12813 Search and Equilibrium Prices: Theory and Evidence from Retail Diesel‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 12813. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp12813