Price Variability or Rigidity in the Food-retailing Sector? Theoretical Analysis and Evidence from German Scanner Data*

摘要: In many industrialized countries, the grocery-retailing sector exhibits a strong and increasing market concentration. Hence, it is important to understand retail pricing for questions related power in marketing chain agricultural food policies. We analyze intertemporal of grocery retailers Germany with large set scanner data processed foods. theory, prices could be rather variable, e.g. due fluctuating commodity competitive world, or rigid, price adjustment costs. elaborate that sales are crucial raise variability at points sale. Despite this, rigid often do not change weeks. Moreover, strategies identical brands vary strongly across retailers. Retailers seem have differential and, thus, power. This casts substantial doubt on assumption transmission channel underlying most analyses economics.