Price parity clauses have recently triggered several antitrust investigations. Although decisions in similar markets have sometimes been conflicting, the agencies tend to rely on the same theory of harm. In this paper, I revisit the recent economic (theoretical and empirical) literature which allows me to identify some of the crucial factors that may lead to anticompetitive effects of such clauses: price parity clauses are more likely to be harmful when suppliers cannot credibly threaten platforms to stop using them in case commissions are seen as excessive. This will occur for instance when the diversion from intermediation platforms to the suppliers’ direct sales channel (e.g. own website) is weak.
Featured News
Canadian Breadmakers Settle Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Jul 25, 2024 by
CPI
EssilorLuxottica Open to Meta as Shareholder, Says CEO Francesco Milleri
Jul 25, 2024 by
CPI
California Supreme Court Upholds Proposition 22, Securing Independent Contractor Status for Uber and Lyft Drivers
Jul 25, 2024 by
CPI
Paramount Global Investor Sues to Block Skydance Media Merger
Jul 25, 2024 by
CPI
Software Vendors Win Class Action Status in Antitrust Case Against CDK Global
Jul 25, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – International Trade & Antitrust
Jul 26, 2024 by
CPI
What is Wrong with the WTO Discipline on Subsidies?
Jul 26, 2024 by
CPI
The Abiding Tension Between Trade Remedy Law and Antitrust
Jul 26, 2024 by
CPI
Trade and Antitrust: An End to Isolationism
Jul 26, 2024 by
CPI
International Trade Law and Domestic Regulation of Generative Artificial Intelligence: Divergent Approaches?
Jul 26, 2024 by
CPI