In this article in Antitrust Law Journal, Sean Durkin shows that the discount attribution test provides a simple, intuitive way to illustrate the procompetitive benefits of loyalty discounts. Using a model of competition implied by the discount attribution test, the article shows how competition can increase when sellers can offer loyalty discounts relative to a situation where they can only offer a single, unconditional price. The results of the model also highlight the flaws in claims often made by plaintiffs and their experts regarding the competitive effects of loyalty discounts.
Why a hotel room in New York costs $500 a night
In a recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled “Why a Hotel Room in NY Costs $500,” Michael Salinger (CRA consultant and Boston University professor) and...