CFDP 2079R2

Zone Pricing in Retail Oligopoly

Publication Date: February 2017

Revision Date: December 2017March 2018

Pages: 48

Abstract: 

We quantify the welfare effects of zone pricing, or setting common prices across distinct markets, in retail oligopoly. Although monopolists can only increase profits by price discriminating, this need not be true when firms face competition. With novel data covering the retail home improvement industry, we find that Home Depot would benefit from finer pricing but that Lowe’s would prefer coarser pricing. Zone pricing softens competition in markets where firms compete, but it shields consumers from higher prices in rural markets, where firms might otherwise exercise market power. Overall, zone pricing produces higher consumer surplus than finer price discrimination does.

Keywords: 

Zone pricing, Market segmentation, Price discrimination in oligopoly, Micromarketing, retailing

JEL Classification Codes: C13, L67, L81

JEL Classification Codes: C13L67L81

See CFP: CFP1622