SEARCH COSTS AND PRICE DISPERSION OF GASOLINE AND ETHANOL IN THE BRAZILIAN FUEL MARKET: EVIDENCE FROM SÃO PAULO CITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/2176-5456.50546Keywords:
Competition, Price dispersion, Search costAbstract
Search costs is a common phenomenon, although rarely studied in Brazil. This study aim to evaluate the importance of search costs in the dispersion of fuel prices in São Paulo city. As theoretical reference, we use models of price dispersion and market structures studies. The empirical part has two stages, first is estimated the relevant retail fuel market, and then we describe the dispersion in the area. The retail prices data of gasoline and ethanol have been collected and the time series was provided by the Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis. The results show local competition characteristics might be more relevant to understand price patterns than search costs.