Arbeitspapier

Direct to consumer advertising in pharmaceutical markets

We study effects of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) in the prescription drug market. There are two pharmaceutical firms providing horizontally differentiated (branded) drugs. Patients differ in their susceptibility to the drugs. If DTCA is allowed, this can be employed to induce (additional) patient visits. Physicians perfectly observe the patients' type (of illness), but rely on information to prescribe the correct drug. Drug information is conveyed by marketing (detailing), creating a captive and a selective segment of physicians. First, we show that detailing, DTCA and price (if not regulated) are complementary strategies for the firms. Thus, allowing DTCA induces more detailing and higher prices. Second, firms benefit from DTCA if detailing competition is not too fierce, which is true if investing in detailing is sufficiently costly. Otherwise, firms are better off with a ban on DTCA. Finally, DTCA tends to lower welfare if insurance is generous (low copayments) and/or price regulation is lenient. The desirability of DTCA also depends on whether or not the regulator is concerned with firms' profit.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 1493

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Analysis of Health Care Markets
Advertising
Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
Thema
marketing
pharmaceuticals
oligopoly
Werbung
Pharmazeutisches Produkt
Oligopol

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Brekke, Kurt R.
Kuhn, Michael
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
(wo)
Munich
(wann)
2005

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:42 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Brekke, Kurt R.
  • Kuhn, Michael
  • Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)

Entstanden

  • 2005

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