Segnalazione da ECB-ResearchBulletin

 (...) the latest issue (No. 106) of the ECB Research Bulletin, entitled “One product, two prices: the border effect in retail prices”.

Teresa Messner (Economist, Monetary Policy Section, Oesterreichische Nationalbank), Fabio Rumler (Senior Principal, Monetary Policy Section, Oesterreichische Nationalbank) and Georg Strasser (Team Lead Economist, Directorate General Research, Macroeconomics, European Central Bank) examine price differences across a national border where most factors commonly used to explain international price differences are absent. While some products cost the same on both sides of the border between Austria and Germany, most prices differ significantly. Their study suggests that retailers have considerable market power vis-à-vis consumers, with the border effect pointing to retailers choosing to apply price differentiation – for historical reasons – based on existing distribution networks. (...)

Alexander Popov

Coordinating Editor, ECB Research Bulletin

DG Research

European Central Bank