This paper analyzes the competitive interplay of prices amongst retail channels: offline (brick-and-mortar) and online (such as retailers’ websites and online marketplaces). We find evidence of a close competitive relationship between the two channels, in which prices correspond tightly across...

If a monopolist (any manufacturer with downward-sloping demand) cannot commit to a wholesale price in advance, even competitive retailers will be reluctant to enter the market, knowing that once they have entered, the monopolist has incentive to choose a higher price and reduce their...

We investigate the impacts of default regulated products and their design on the development of competitive retail markets and retailers' pricing decisions. We analyze this question in the context of Alberta's competitive retail electricity market, using data on the prices and characteristics of...

We analyze the pass-through of cost changes to retail tariffs in the German electricity market over the 2007 to 2014 period. We find an average pass-through rate of around 60%, which significantly varies with demand factors: while the pass-through rate to baseline tariffs, where firms have...

Why does Amazon.com make low or no profits, whereas, its bricks-and-mortar rival Borders makes substantially higher profits? Why is price dispersion high in certain categories and low in others? Why are prices for the same item higher at bricks-and-mortar retailers than they are at pure play...