The Degree of Distortions under Second-Degree Price Discrimination
14 Pages Posted: 22 May 2015 Last revised: 29 Oct 2015
Date Written: October 28, 2015
Abstract
We consider second-degree price discrimination for two types of consumers. When the net-of-cost valuation functions cross at least once at some positive quantity, it is always optimal to serve both types of consumers. Moreover, the type with the higher valuation peak always gets the socially efficient quantity. The sufficient and necessary condition for the overall efficiency is the peak of each type’s net-of-cost valuation is above the other type’s net-of-cost valuation at that peak quantity. For two general linear demands, we quantify the degree of efficiency, upward and downward distortions.
Keywords: second-degree price discrimination, overall efficiency, upward distortion, downward distortion
JEL Classification: D42, L12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation