Dear colleagues, The Department of Economics cordially invites you to the WU Economics Research Seminar on Wednesday, June 19th, with Biliana Yontcheva (DICE Düsseldorf) on "Chain formation and consumer welfare on the retail pharmacy market" Abstract: This paper evaluates the effect of deregulated ownership and horizontal integration on the retail pharmacy market. Using data on the full population of reimbursed prescriptions in Slovakia in 2017, we examine whether outlets of pharmacy chains perform better than their independent counterparts in terms of consumer preferences and operating costs. Our preliminary findings indicate that consumers perceive pharmacy chains as having higher quality on average than independent outlets, although there is substantial heterogeneity in the effects, both across chain brands and across consumer types. We do not find evidence for substantial productivity gains due to chain affiliation, suggesting that growth in the sector is mainly driven by selective takeovers in locations with high economies of scale. Date: Wednesday, June 19th Time: 4.30 to 6.00 pm (CET) Location: building D4, ground floor, room D4.0.019<https://campus.wu.ac.at/?q=D4.0.019> With best regards, Harald Oberhofer --- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald Oberhofer Department of Economics WU Vienna University of Economics and Business Phone: +43/1/31336-4984 Email: harald.oberhofer@wu.ac.at<mailto:harald.oberhofer@wu.ac.at> Webpage: https://www.wu.ac.at/ie/mitarbeiter/harald-oberhofer/ Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) Phone: +43/1/7982601-468 Email: harald.oberhofer@wifo.ac.at<mailto:harald.oberhofer@wifo.ac.at> Webpage: http://www.wifo.ac.at/harald_oberhofer