Can competition reduce quality?

We study the e¤ect of competition on quality in markets such as health care, long-term care and education, when providers choose both prices and quality in a setting of spatial competition. We o¤er a novel mechanism whereby competition leads to lower quality. This mechanism relies on two key assumptions, namely that the providers are motivated and risk-averse. Our proposed mechanism can help explain several empirical …ndings of a negative e¤ect of competition on quality.