Hidden “junk” fees have the potential to distort competition, creating high costs to consumers. However, regulating them can lead to adverse effects, especially in complex markets with intermediaries where they are most prevalent. To explore the equilibrium adjustments of regulating hidden...

Die Erwerbsnebenkosten in Deutschland sind hoch und stellen eine wesentliche Hürde für die Wohneigentumsbildung dar. Zu den Erwerbsnebenkosten zählen, neben der Grunderwerbsteuer und den Notarkosten, auch die Maklergebühren, die Käufer in einigen Bundesländern mit bis zu 7,14 Prozent der...

For many products, platforms enable sellers to transact with buyers. We show that the competitive conditions among sellers shape the market structure in platform industries. If product market competition is tough, sellers avoid competitors by joining different platforms. This allows platforms to...