Quality Regulation and Competition: Evidence from Pharmaceutical Markets

We study the effects of quality regulation on market outcomes by exploiting the staggered phase-in of bioequivalence requirements for generic drugs in Chile. We estimate that the number of drugs in the market decreased by 25%, average paid prices increased by 10%, and total sales decreased by 20%. These adverse effects were concentrated among small markets. Our results suggest that the intended effects of quality regulation on price competition through increased (perceived) quality of generics—and therefore reduced vertical differentiation—were overturned by adverse competitive effects arising from the costs of complying with the regulation.

Keywords: Quality regulation, competition, bioequivalence, generic pharmaceuticals

JEL Classification: I11, L11, L15, L65

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Atal, Juan Pablo and Cuesta, José Ignacio and Sæthre, Morten, Quality Regulation and Competition: Evidence from Pharmaceutical Markets (September 26, 2018). NHH Dept. of Economics Discussion Paper No. 20/2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3263514 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3263514