Procuring medical devices: the price effect of mergers among orthopedic prostheses producers

JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS, Forthcoming
Atella, Vincenzo; Ceschin, Nicola; Decarolis, Francesco
Abstract

This paper quantifies the price effects of a merger between two major producers of orthopedic prostheses. It shows that, in the public procurement markets where these products are purchased, the effect of the merger hinges on the characteristics of both the procurement design and the organizational structure of the buyers.