Bonnet, Céline and Bouamra-Mechemache, Zohra (2020) Empirical methodology for the evaluation of collusive behaviour in vertically-related markets: an application to the "yogurt cartel" in France. International Review of Law and Economics, vol. 61 (105872).

This is the latest version of this item.

[thumbnail of wp_tse_1012.pdf]
Preview
Text
Download (398kB) | Preview
Identification Number : 10.1016/j.irle.2019.105872

Abstract

The paper proposes a five-step methodology based on the estimation of demand and supply models to test the existence of manufacturers’ collusive behaviour and evaluate its impact on market and welfare. This methodology allows for the estimation of profit sharing in vertical chains by properly modelling the contracting stage between manufacturers and retailers. We apply this methodology to analyse the effects of the "yogurt cartel" that prevailed in the French dairy dessert market between private label providers during the period 2006-2012. We find that data supports collusive behaviour between private label manufacturers, and lead to average price increase varying from 7.3% and 11.3%, according to the product category. We found an umbrella effect on dairy products sold under national brands at the wholesale level but not at the retail level. The cartel benefits manufacturers both for the sales of the national brand and private label products, while retailers lost profits over the private label products but gained profits over the national brand products. The cartel implies a relatively low decrease in consumer welfare —lower than the gain for the industry—such that the overall welfare effect of the cartel is positive.

Item Type: Article
Language: English
Date: March 2020
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: cartel, private label, Bargaining, profit sharing, collusion
Subjects: B- ECONOMIE ET FINANCE
Divisions: TSE-R (Toulouse)
Site: UT1
Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2019 10:34
Last Modified: 24 Jun 2021 15:06
OAI Identifier: oai:tse-fr.eu:123680
URI: https://publications.ut-capitole.fr/id/eprint/32898

Available Versions of this Item

View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year