Premium
Mergers to Monopoly
Author(s) -
Tombak Mihkel M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of economics and management strategy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.672
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1530-9134
pISSN - 1058-6407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1430-9134.2002.00513.x
Subject(s) - monopoly , consolidation (business) , industrial organization , market power , business , mergers and acquisitions , welfare , bargaining power , product market , microeconomics , economics , monetary economics , market economy , incentive , finance
Horizontal mergers between firms that have different costs are examined. Owners can transfer technology to an acquired firm and decide whether to consolidate or operate their firms as separate entities in the product market. Thus mergers can exhibit both efficiencies and a market‐power effect. The prices of target firms are determined via a bargaining game. An equilibrium sequence of mergers entails the largest firm targeting the next largest rival firm. Initially, this sequence of mergers with technology transfers involves no consolidations and improves welfare. Ultimately, the acquisitions lead to consolidation and may decrease total welfare.