Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/46423 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 3270
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Building on a model of the interaction of risk-averse firms that compete in forward and spot markets, we develop an empirical strategy to test whether oligopolistic firms use forward contracts for strategic motives, for risk-hedging, or for both. An increase in the number of players weakens the incentives to sell forward for risk-hedging reasons. However, if strategic motives are also relevant, then an increase in the number of players strengthens the incentives to sell forward. This difference provides the analyst with a way to identify whether strategic considerations are important at motivating firms to sell forward. Using data from the Dutch wholesale market for natural gas where we observe the number of players, spot and forward sales, and churn rates, we find evidence that strategic reasons play an important role at explaining the observed firms' (inverse) hedge ratios. In addition, the data lend support to the existence of a learning effect by wholesalers.
JEL: 
D43
L13
G13
L95
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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