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Speaker Francis Annan - Equilibrium Effects of Entry in Digital Financial Markets

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Department of ACE
Location
Mumford Hall 426-428
Virtual
wifi event
Date
Apr 12, 2024   12:00 - 1:00 pm  
Speaker
Francis Annan, Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley
Views
21
Originating Calendar
ACE Seminars

Abstract
We study the direct and indirect effects of randomized entry into local service industries. We implement a three-step design, randomizing the entry of new retail mobile money vendors — drawn from existing microenterprises retailing other services across independent, distinct low-income localities in Ghana. We report preliminary evidence of (i) mixed business stealing and market expansion in sector A: mobile money, and (ii) market expansion in sector B: microenterprises. Yet, local industry revenues and profits increased overall, suggesting positive externalities on microenterprises and producer surplus. Randomized entry increases both firm conduct and service quality and decreases prices, suggesting positive consumer surplus. These effects are not only important for welfare and policy but are key ingredients for advancing basic and applied knowledge on firm entry in industry equilibrium.

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