Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0 Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers Creation-Date: 2010-05-27 Revision-Date: 2011-05-16 Number: 10-054/1 Author-Name: Erik Ansink Author-Workplace-Name: IVM, VU University Amsterdam, and Wageningen University Author-Name: Harold Houba Author-Workplace-Name: VU University Amsterdam Title: Market Power in Water Markets Abstract: This discussion paper led to a publication in 'Journal of Environmental Economics and Management'.

Water markets with market power are analysed as multi-market Cournot competition in which the river structure constrains access to local markets and limited resources impose capacity constraints. Conditions for uniqueness are identified. Lerner indices are larger under binding resource constraints. The number of cases explodes in the number of local markets. Under quadratic benefit functions and symmetric constant marginal extraction costs, closed-form solutions for selected cases are derived, and numerical implementation through a single optimization program is available. Upstream locations face less competition than downstream. Observed price patterns in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District are consistent with the theoretical results. Classification-JEL: C72, C73, Q25 Keywords: Water markets, oligopoly, market power, Cournot-Walras equilibrium File-Url: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/10054.pdf File-Format: application/pdf File-Size: 438196 bytes Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20100054