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Information Frictions and Market Power: A Laboratory Study

Author

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  • Anna Bayona
  • Jordi Brandts
  • Xavier Vives
Abstract
In a laboratory experiment with supply function competition and private information about correlated costs we study whether cost interdependence leads to greater market power in relation to when costs are uncorrelated in the ways predicted by Bayesian supply function equilibrium. We find that with uncorrelated costs observed behavior is close to the theoretical benchmark. However, with interdependent costs and precise private signals, market power does not raise above the case of uncorrelated costs contrary to the theoretical prediction. This is consistent with subjects not being able to make inferences from the market price when costs are interdependent. We find that this effect is less severe when private signals are noisier.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Bayona & Jordi Brandts & Xavier Vives, 2016. "Information Frictions and Market Power: A Laboratory Study," CESifo Working Paper Series 6005, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6005
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    supply function competition; private information; wholesale electricity market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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