Economics Research Seminar Series: Matthew Lewis, Clemson University

Research topic: Asymmetric Information Sharing in Oligopoly: A Natural Experiment in Retail Gasoline

Matthew Lewis, Clemson University

Topic

Asymmetric Information Sharing in Oligopoly: A Natural Experiment in Retail Gasoline

abstract

Using a natural experiment from a retail gasoline antitrust case, we study how asymmetric information sharing affects oligopoly pricing. Empirically, price competition softens when, following case settlement, information sharing shifts from symmetric to asymmetric, with one firm losing access to high-frequency, granular rival price data. We provide theory and empirics illustrating how strategic ignorance creates price commitment, leading to higher price-cost margins. Using a structural model, we find substantial profit-enhancing effects of asymmetric information sharing. These results provide a cautionary tale for antitrust agencies regarding the potential unintended consequences of limiting price information sharing among firms.

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