A PYMNTS Company

Estimation of Loss in Consumer Surplus Resulting from Excessive Pricing of Telecommunication Services in Mexico

By  |  October 2, 2013

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    Marta Stryszowska (Microeconomix, France) provides Estimation of Loss in Consumer Surplus Resulting from Excessive Pricing of Telecommunication Services in Mexico

    ABSTRACT: The present study evaluates the loss in consumer surplus caused by the low degree of competition in the Mexican telecommunication sector which results in relatively high prices, and also leads to lower levels of consumption across the range of telecommunication services. Econometric techniques are used in order to estimate the prices for telecommunication services and the corresponding numbers of subscriptions to telecommunication services that would have been observed in Mexico if there had been more competition in the Mexican telecommunication sector. The estimation relies on cross-country panel data from OECD countries. Estimates are undertaken for mobile and fixed telecommunication services and broadband services. The consumer harm in Mexico is estimated at USD 129.2 billion, or an average of USD 25.8 billion per year in terms of purchasing power parity over the period 2005-09. The latter amount is equivalent to 1.8% of Mexican GDP per year.