Published and Forthcoming Papers
"Using List Prices to Collude or to Compete?" (with Juan-Pablo Montero). Economic Journal (2024).
[Slides] [Accepted manuscript] [Policy coverage]
Abstract: It is often argued that collusion is not possible in wholesale markets where suppliers and buyers privately bargain over discounts off list prices and sales quotas are unfeasible. In many wholesale markets, however, there are buyers of varying sizes and bargaining powers who compete for final consumers in the retail market. We study the role of public announcements of list prices in this wholesale-retail setting, whether suppliers collude or compete. Two effects are at work. When suppliers collude, public announcements of list prices further extend the possibility of collusion from small to large buyers (the multibuyer contact effect). When suppliers compete, these public announcements provide them with commitment to negotiate better terms with large buyers (the commitment effect).
"Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological distress in health workers: A three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial" (with Antonia Errázuriz, Kristin Schmidt, Eduardo A. Undurraga, Sebastián Medeiros, Rene Baudrand, Marcela Henriquez, Pablo Celhay, and Rodrigo A. Figueroa). Journal of Psychiatric Research (2022).
Abstract: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has shown good efficacy for improving wellbeing in employees experiencing occupational stress. However, comparisons with other interventions, longer-term follow-up, and data from varying sociocultural contexts are lacking. This three-arm, parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT) examined the effects of MBSR on psychological distress in non-physician health workers in direct contact with patients. 105 participants were randomly allocated to either: (1) MBSR (N = 35), (2) Stress Management Course (SMC; N = 34) or (3) wait-list (N = 36). Participants and those assessing outcomes were blinded to group assignment. Participants completed questionnaires pre- and post-intervention and four months after the intervention. Psychological distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45). Secondary outcomes included perceived stress, job satisfaction, mindfulness skills and changes in salivary cortisol. 77 participants completed measures post-intervention and 52 at 4-month follow-up. MBSR showed a post-intervention effect in reducing GHQ-12 (ß = −0.80 [SE = 1.58] p < 0.01) and OQ-45 (ß = −0.72, [SE = 5.87] p < 0.05) psychological distress, compared to SMC and in reducing GHQ-12 (ß = −1.30 [SE = 1.38] p < 0.001) and OQ-45 (ß = −0.71, [SE = 5.58] p < 0.01) psychological distress compared to wait-list condition. In our secondary outcome, only MBSR was associated with a decrease in the cortisol awaking response by 23% (p < 0.05). At follow-up, only effects of MBSR on the psychological distress ‘social role’ subscale (ß = −0.76 [SE = 1.31] p < 0.05) remained significant, compared to SMC. In conclusion, MBSR appears useful in reducing short-term psychological distress in healthcare workers, but these effects were not maintained at follow-up.
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Working Papers
"Nash-in-Nash Equilibrium with Inefficient Contracts" (with Moeen Nehzati).
Abstract: We prove existence and uniqueness of a Nash-in-Nash bargaining equilibrium in vertical relations models with inefficient contracts. Inefficient contracts do not maximize gains from trade, and evidence shows they are widespread. This setting is pervasive in empirical industrial organization, but extant proofs of existence and uniqueness are limited to efficient contracts. Nonexistence and multiplicity of equilibria threaten identification, so I add to the literature by showing conditions under which bargaining models can be point identified. For empirical work, we show how to check our assumptions hold in a model. The results also matter for counterfactual computation and antitrust policy analysis. We provide an algorithm for equilibrium computation, including conditions that ensure convergence.
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Work in Progress
"Design of Emissions Trading Systems" (with Niklas Schoch ).
"On the Prevalence of Local Uniqueness of Equilibria, with an Application to Mixed Logit Models" (with Moeen Nehzati ).
"Counting Alphabets, Fixed Points, and Basins: Bayesian Inference with Priors from Landscape Theory" (with Moeen Nehzati).
"Determinants of Fiscal Capacity in Early Modern Europe".