EXTENDED MODEL FOR STRATEGIC PRICING DESIGN IN PAYMENT MARKETS ENVIRONMENT

摘要

This paper studies the strategic pricing decisions for payment networks environment with asymmetric acquiring scale. The results suggest that an incumbent with larger scale should raise surcharges and lower foreign fees while the entrants with smaller scale shall lower surcharges but raise foreign fees, i.e. gaining on one side but losing on another side as the gap of acquiring scale widens. However, the difference of price structure for the incumbent and entrants is constant, which is merely determined by acquiring scale rather than cost structure or access fees. The access fee does affect the allocation of price between foreign fees and surcharges but does not affect the price level for cardholders, indicating a non-neutral effect. Free access is not a socially desirable policy.