Measuring Competition Using the Profit Elasticity: American Sugar Industry, 1890-1914

CentER Discussion Paper Series No. 2010-124

TILEC Discussion Paper No. 2010-043

13 Pages Posted: 8 Dec 2010 Last revised: 16 Dec 2010

See all articles by Jan Boone

Jan Boone

Tilburg University - Center for Economic Research (CentER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); TILEC

Michiel van Leuvensteijn

APG; delete

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Date Written: December 7, 2010

Abstract

The Profit Elasticity (PE) is a new competition measure introduced in Boone (2008). Sofar, there was no direct proof that this measure can identify regimes of competition empirically. This paper focuses on this issue using data of Genesove and Mullin (1998) in which different regimes of competition are identified. We derive a version of PE Suitable for this data set. This competition measure correctly classifies the monopoly/cartel regime as being less competitive than both the price ware regime and break-up of cartel regime.

Keywords: competition, measures of competition, price cost margin, profit elasticity

JEL Classification: D43, L13

Suggested Citation

Boone, Jan and van Leuvensteijn, Michiel and van Leuvensteijn, Michiel, Measuring Competition Using the Profit Elasticity: American Sugar Industry, 1890-1914 (December 7, 2010). CentER Discussion Paper Series No. 2010-124 , TILEC Discussion Paper No. 2010-043, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1721520 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1721520

Jan Boone (Contact Author)

Tilburg University - Center for Economic Research (CentER) ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands
+31 13 466 2399 (Phone)
+31 13 466 3042 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

TILEC ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Michiel Van Leuvensteijn

APG ( email )

Gustav Mahlerplein 3
Amsterdam, North Holland 1082
Netherlands

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