When retailers must commit to shipment quantities prior to resolution of demand uncertainty, manufacturer stipulation of a minimum retail price is likely to be profitable for the manufacturer, and not damaging to the retailers. The reason is simple: If demand turns out to be low, the unfettered...

In Japan, newspapers enjoy a special exemption from antimonopoly prohibitions against resale price maintenance (suppliers’ stipulations that bar downstream firms from price discounting). But if a newspaper company does stipulate retail prices, it is required to set uniform prices throughout...