Estimation and Identification of Merger Effects: An Application to Hospital Mergers

43 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2005 Last revised: 25 Nov 2022

Date Written: October 2005

Abstract

Advances in structural demand estimation have substantially improved economists' ability to forecast the impact of mergers. However, these models rely on extensive assumptions about consumer choice and firm objectives, and ultimately observational methods are needed to test their validity. Observational studies, in turn, suffer from selection problems arising from the fact that merging entities differ from non-merging entities in unobserved ways. To obtain an accurate estimate of the effect of consummated mergers, I propose a combination of rival analysis and instrumental variables. By focusing on the effect of a merger on the behavior of rival firms, and instrumenting for these mergers, unbiased estimates of the effect of a merger on market outcomes can be obtained. Using this methodology, I evaluate the impact of independent hospital mergers between 1989 and 1996 on rivals' prices. I find sharp increases in rivals' prices following a merger, with the greatest effect on the closest rivals. The results for this industry are more consistent with predictions from structural models than with prior observational estimates.

Suggested Citation

Dafny, Leemore S., Estimation and Identification of Merger Effects: An Application to Hospital Mergers (October 2005). NBER Working Paper No. w11673, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=819834

Leemore S. Dafny (Contact Author)

Northwestern University - Department of Management & Strategy ( email )

Kellogg School of Management
2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
93
Abstract Views
1,381
Rank
502,565
PlumX Metrics