Centro de Documentacion de Fundación MAPFRE - Tomb price discrimination in cemeteries : competition in the market for corpses?

MAP20090086906

Tomb price discrimination in cemeteries : competition in the market for corpses? / Francisco Marcos, Albert Sánchez, Juan Santaló. — Madrid : Instituto de Empresa, 2007

(IE working paper ; WP07-09)

Sumario: The authors study empirically the determinants of public tomb prices in a sample of Spanish towns. They document strong evidence in favor that cemeteries act as local monopolies that use second degree price discrimination to maximize profits. Additionally they report that local cemetery prices react to competition from private cremation companies. This competition is associated with lower price dispersion caused by an increase in the minimum niche prices with no effect on other higher niche pieces. They conclude that cemeteries have accommodated and facilitated entry of private cremation companies through an increase in those niche prices more likely to affect cremation demand

1. Seguro de decesos . 2. Cementerios . 3. Funerarias . 4. Tumbas . 5. Análisis empírico . 6. Análisis costo-beneficio . 7. España . I. Sánchez Graells, Albert . II. Santaló, Juan . III. Instituto de Empresa . IV. Title.