Diverging Trends in National and Local Concentration

41 Pages Posted: 24 Sep 2018 Last revised: 29 Jun 2023

See all articles by Esteban Rossi-Hansberg

Esteban Rossi-Hansberg

University of Chicago - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Pierre-Daniel G. Sarte

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Nicholas Trachter

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 2018

Abstract

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond or the Federal Reserve System. We thank Eric LaRose and Sara Ho for outstanding research assistance.Using U.S. NETS data, we present evidence that the positive trend observed in national product-market concentration between 1990 and 2014 becomes a negative trend when we focus on measures of local concentration. We document diverging trends for several geographic definitions of local markets. SIC 8 industries with diverging trends are pervasive across sectors. In these industries, top firms have contributed to the amplification of both trends. When a top firm opens a plant, local concentration declines and remains lower for at least 7 years. Our findings, therefore, reconcile the increasing national role of large firms with falling local concentration, and a likely more competitive local environment.

Suggested Citation

Rossi-Hansberg, Esteban A. and Sarte, Pierre-Daniel and Trachter, Nicholas, Diverging Trends in National and Local Concentration (September 2018). NBER Working Paper No. w25066, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3254041

Esteban A. Rossi-Hansberg (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Department of Economics

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Pierre-Daniel Sarte

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond ( email )

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Richmond, VA 23261
United States

Nicholas Trachter

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond ( email )

P.O. Box 27622
Richmond, VA 23261
United States

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