Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36672 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Jena Economic Research Papers No. 2010,043
Publisher: 
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
Like Feinberg and Sherman (1985) and Phillips and Mason (1992) we test experimentally whether conglomerate firms, i.e., firms competing on multiple structurally unrelated markets, can effectively limit competition. Our more general analysis assumes differentiated rather than homogeneous products and distinguishes strategic substitutes as well as complements to test this forbearance hypothesis. Rather than only a partners design we also explore a random strangers design to disentangle effects of forbearance and repeated interaction. Surprisingly, conglomerate firms do not limit competition, they rather foster it. More in line with our expectations we find more cooperation in complement markets than in substitute markets and also more cooperation in a partners than in a strangers matching.
Subjects: 
Experiment
Forbearance
Competition
JEL: 
C91
D43
L41
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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