All-unit discounts and the problem of surplus division

E. Feess, Ansgar Wohlschlegel

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    All-unit discounts (AUD) are non-linear pricing schemes whereby buyers who reach a specific quantity threshold get rebates also retroactively for all units bought before. This sets high incentives for buyers to meet the quantity threshold, and may also have foreclosure effects on potential entrants. In a model where an incumbent faces second-period competition by entrants, we show that AUD can indeed be abused to shift rents from entrants. In contrast to exclusive dealing which is usually seen as very similar to AUD, inefficient quantity distortions may arise even with perfect information if and only if there is sufficiently intense competition among potential entrants.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)161-178
    Number of pages18
    JournalReview of Industrial Organization
    Volume37
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

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