Skip to main content
Log in

Measuring the effect of local competition on prices in a context of spatial differentiation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines the problem of estimation bias when the effect of local competition on prices is investigated. The hotel industry was chosen as a representative case of industries that offer a spatially differentiated product. It is shown that, in this context, including spatial variables as controls can be especially useful for reducing bias in the cross-sectional estimator. We also show how our results are robust to alternative size definitions for geographically relevant markets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Barron, J.M., Taylor, B.A., Umbeck, J.R.: Number of sellers, average prices and price dispersion. Int. J. Ind. Organ. 22, 1041–1066 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bull, A.O.: Pricing a motel’s location. Int. J. Contemp. Hosp. Manag. 6, 10–15 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., Riordan, M.H.: Price-increasing competition. Rand J. Econ. 39, 1042–1058 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Ballesteros, A., Sanz-Berzal, B. (eds.): Atlas de la Comunidad de Madrid en el Umbral del Siglo XXI. Comunidad de Madrid y Universidad Complutense (2002)

  • Janssen, M.C.W., Moraga-González, J.L.: Strategic pricing, consumer search and the number of firms. Rev. Econ. Stud. 71, 1089–1118 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelejian, H.H., Prucha, I.R.: HAC estimation in a spatial framework. Econom. J. 140, 131–154 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotas, R.: Management accounting for hotels and restaurants. Surrey University Press, London (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, D.M., Florax, R.J., Cho, S.-H.: Bandwidth selection for spatial HAC and other robust covariance estimators. Working paper 08-10, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University (2008)

  • Lewis, M.: Retail gasoline price dynamics and local market power. ICFAI J. Ind. Econ. 56, 654–678 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzeo, M.: Competitive outcomes in product-differentiated oligopoly. Rev. Econ. Stat. 84, 719–728 (2002a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzeo, M.: Product choice and oligopoly market structure. Rand J. Econ. 33, 221–242 (2002b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melzer, B.T., Morgan, D.P.: Price-increasing competition: The curious case of overdraft versus deferred deposit credit. Staff report 391, Federal Reserve Bank of New York (2009)

  • Rosenthal, R.: A model in which an increase in the number of sellers leads to a higher price. Econometrica 48, 1575–1580 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomadsen, R.: Product positioning and competition: The role of location in the fast food industry. Mark. Sci. 26, 792–804 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, M.B., Shimshack, J.P., Perloff, J.M., Harris, M.J.: Effects of the private-label invasion in food industries. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 84, 962–973 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacint Balaguer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Balaguer, J., Pernías, J.C. Measuring the effect of local competition on prices in a context of spatial differentiation. Lett Spat Resour Sci 4, 109–116 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12076-011-0055-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12076-011-0055-y

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation