Volkswirtschaftliche Analyse Von Regulativen Eingriffen Bei Preisänderungen Von Treibstoffen (Economic Analysis of Regulating Price Changes in the Gasoline Market)

Abstract

In Austria the market of gasoline products is dominated by a few large companies. Before mid-2009 retail prices at individual gas stations could exhibit gyrations during the day, but over time seemed to follow a common path which could be interpreted as the result of tacit collusion. To increase transparency for consumers, daily price adaptions have been regulated since: The publicly posted gasoline prices may be increased only once per day, while they may be lowered any time. The paper evaluates the original regulation of mid-2009 which did not provide for a unified hour of the day for the price increases and it argues in favor of one specific hour for all types of gas stations. This was actually implemented (at 12 noon) in early 2011.

Note: Downloadable document is in German.

Keywords: gasoline prices, Austria

JEL Classification: L13, L71, Q40