Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Gainers and Losers in Priority Services

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Gainers and Losers in Priority Services

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>30/11/2023
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Political Economy
Issue number11
Volume131
Number of pages53
Pages (from-to)3103-3155
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date12/10/23
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

We analyze the implications of priority service (PS) on customers’ welfare. In monopoly markets, PS can often decrease consumer surplus and can even yield a loss of welfare to all consumers. This happens despite its efficiency gains, as monopolists levy in revenue more than the total efficiency gains. PS can increase consumer surplus if it expands the consumption coverage—that is, if it introduces new customers who would not purchase the service otherwise. In duopoly markets, the price competition over PS can be severely eroded. Under homogeneity, firms act as if they were monopolists serving half of the market.