The views of some influential economists and legal experts to the contrary, in most instances consumer goods manufacturers can solve a special services free rider problem more effectively by adopting a program of promotional allowances that pay the retailer upon proof of performance than by...

Total Surplus is the best metric for social welfare. It is the sum of Producer, Retailer and Consumer Surplus (See Diagrams) – not just the sum of Producer and Consumer Surplus as assumed in most economists’ models that make the false assumption that the retail sector is perfectly...