Frederic M. Scherer on vertical agreements: staking out the middle ground on resale price maintenance

Journal title ECONOMIA E POLITICA INDUSTRIALE
Author/s Kenneth G. Elzinga
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/1
Language English Pages 15 P. 105-119 File size 57 KB
DOI 10.3280/POLI2014-001006
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This paper describes the influence of Frederic M. Scherer in the field of Industrial Organization. The emphasis is on Scherer’s research with regard to vertical agreements between a manufacturer and its downstream vendors, with particular focus on Scherer’s writings about resale price maintenance (RPM). Scherer’s views on RPM agreements are contrasted with the Chicago school’s liberality and the Warren Court’s stringency, showing how Scherer staked out a middle ground. The paper also assesses the influence of Scherer in moving US antitrust policy from its historic stance of treating RPM as per se illegal to its current treatment under the rule of reason.

Keywords: Resale price maintenance, Chicago School, free rider, Leegin opinion

Jel codes: L42, B31

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Kenneth G. Elzinga, Frederic M. Scherer on vertical agreements: staking out the middle ground on resale price maintenance in "ECONOMIA E POLITICA INDUSTRIALE " 1/2014, pp 105-119, DOI: 10.3280/POLI2014-001006