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Can competition reduce quality?

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We study the e¤ect of competition on quality in markets such as health care, long-term care and education, when providers choose both prices and quality in a setting of spatial competition. We o¤er a novel mechanism whereby competition leads to lower quality. This mechanism relies on two key assumptions, namely that the providers are motivated and risk-averse. Our proposed mechanism can help explain several empirical …ndings of a negative e¤ect of competition on quality.

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  • Brekke, Kurt R. & Siciliani, Luigi & Straume, Odd Rune, 2012. "Can competition reduce quality?," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 9/2012, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2012_009
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Market competition and product quality
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2012-04-18 18:15:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Cellini, Roberto & Siciliani, Luigi & Straume, Odd Rune, 2018. "A dynamic model of quality competition with endogenous prices," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 190-206.
    2. Marie‐Louise Leroux & Gregory Ponthiere, 2020. "Nursing home choice, family bargaining, and optimal policy in a Hotelling economy," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 22(4), pages 899-932, August.
    3. Bauer, Carsten & Möbs, Nele & Unger, Oliver & Szczesny, Andrea & Ernst, Christian, 2020. "Spillover Effects of Specialization Strategies in Hospitals: An Analysis of the Effects in the Short, Medium, and Long Term," EconStor Preprints 215783, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Jens Dietrichson & Lina Maria Ellegård & Gustav Kjellsson, 2020. "Patient choice, entry, and the quality of primary care: Evidence from Swedish reforms," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(6), pages 716-730, June.
    5. Godager , Geir & Scott, Anthony, 2023. "Physician Behavior and Health Outcomes," HERO Online Working Paper Series 2023:3, University of Oslo, Health Economics Research Programme.
    6. Levaggi, Laura & Levaggi, Rosella, 2023. "Competition in the provision of hospital care: Are mixed markets a valid alternative?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    7. Levaggi, Laura & Levaggi, Rosella, 2020. "Is there scope for mixed markets in the provision of hospital care?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    8. Laura Levaggi & Rosella Levaggi, 2017. "Oligopolistic competition for the provision of hospital care," Working papers 57, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    9. repec:nip:nipewp:08/2015 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quality and price competition; Motivated providers; Risk-averse providers.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L30 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - General

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