Implications of Increased Regional Concentration and Oligopsonistic Coordination in the Beef Packing Industry

This article proposes an oligopsony pricing model for projecting the effects of increased concentration or oligopsonistic coordination in beef packing using simulation methods. The model combines an explicit behavioral theory of packing firms with an attempt to respect the regional scope of cattle procurement markets. Our results indicate less danger of falling cattle prices, as a result of increase packer concentration or coordination, than do results from conventional econometric studies.