Double Marginalization
Article by Sam Mishra, MBA (MIT Sloan)
Double marginalization happens when there is market power at two channel segments. This produces a double whammy effect of lower total channel profits, and higher retail prices.For example, let’s take a simple channel with two segments: manufacturer, and retailer. If both the retailer and manufacturer are monopolists, there is market power in both the segments of the channel. This is a simple case of double marginalization. which results in lower total channel profits, and higher retail prices.
In a simple example of double marginalization below, it is illustrated that if market power exists in both the segments of a two layer channel, the end consumer pays a higher retail price of $10.70 as opposed to $ 7.13 in case of no double marginalization (only the manufacturer has market power, and not the retailer). Further, it is illustrated that in case of double marginalization, the total channel profits of $ 6625.36 are lower compared to the profits of $ 8838.76 in case of no double marginalization.
I. No double marginalization: only the Manufacturer has Monopoly Power
Let us assume the demand curve is:
QD = 2480 – 174P
Let’s assume the monopoly price demanded by the Manufacturer is PM. Assuming that the retail channel has perfect competition, using the profit maximization formula MR = MC, we get the retail price as:
P = MR = MC = PM
Where MR = Marginal Revenue
MC = Marginal Cost
So, profit of the manufacturer is given by:
∏ = QD * PM
= (2480 – 174 P) * PM
= 2480 PM – 174 (PM)2
So, profit is maximized at:
∂∏ ∕ ∂PM = 2480 – 2 * 174 * PM = 0
or 2480 = 348 PM
or PM = 2480 / 348 = $ 7.13
Since the retailers make no profits, all profits are retained by the monopolist manufacturer, and the total channel profits are
∏ = 2480 PM – 174 (PM)2
= 2480 * 7.13 – 174 * (7.13)2
= 17682.4 - 8845.62
= $ 8838.76
Continued on Double Marginalization Part II
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