We analyze the welfare effects of horizontal mergers in the context of a Counot oligopoly model in which firms have different marginal costs of production. A merger may allow for a shift from less efficient more efficient producers (rationalization of production). A merger may increase social...

We use a two-period model to analyze the short run and long run profitability and welfare consequences of horizontal mergers, where the equilibrium responses to a merger can differ over time. Although firms can anticipate the merger, they can only adjust their capacity in the long run.We find a...