There has been a lot of academic debate in the area of pricing algorithms and competition and the extent to which algorithmic collusion presents an actual threat has not yet been demonstrated. In particular, a key question is to what degree and in which settings algorithms can sustain coordinated prices over competitive levels. Theoretical, computational and empirical papers in are showing that various forms of supra-competitive pricing may indeed emerge through the use of algorithmic pricing, sometimes through the use or adaptation of collusive strategies. This virtual conference will host several speakers working on novel projects related to the concerns around pricing algorithms and collusion.

Location: Hybrid Learning Theatre, University of Amsterdam (physically accessible and via Zoom)

Organisers: Timo Klein and Maarten Pieter Schinkel

Inquiries: Please email Timo Klein at t.klein@uu.nl

Programme

• 14:00 - Timo Klein (Utrecht University and Oxera Consulting) – Moderator: ‘Introductory remarks: Taking stock of the academic literature so far’
• 14:20 - Arnoud den Boer (University of Amsterdam): ‘(Brief) introduction to recent research at UvA on hub-and-spoke colluding pricing algorithms’
• 14:30 -  Janusz Meylahn (University of Amsterdam): ‘Learning to collude in a pricing duopoly’
• 15:00 - Thomas Loots (University of Amsterdam): ‘Tacit collusion by self-learning pricing algorithms under a multinomial logit choice model’
• 15:30 - Screen break
• 15:40 - Justin Johnson (Cornell University): ‘Platform design when sellers use pricing algorithms’ (joint work with Andrew Rhodes and Matthijs Wildenbeest)
• 16:10 - Daniel Ershov (Toulouse School of Economics): ‘Algorithmic pricing and competition: Empirical evidence from the German retail gasoline market’ (joint work with Stephanie Assad, Robert Clark and Lei Xu)
• 16:40 - Screen break
• 16:50 - Joseph Harrington (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania): ‘Third party pricing algorithms and the intensity of competition’
• 17:20 - Vincenzo Denicolo (University of Bologna): 'Algorithmic collusion under imperfect monitoring' and 'Protecting consumers from collusive prices due to AI' (forthcoming in Science, joint work with Emilio Calvano, Giacomo Calzolari, Joseph Harrington and Sergio Pastorello)

Papers and abstracts

Links to the papers or (extended) abstracts will soon be published here.