Price Discrimination


The concept describes the basics of price discrimination and the conditions required for discrimination to occur. It offers examples across sectors and elaborates on its benefits and drawbacks.

Technique Overview

Price Discrimination

Price Discrimination Definition

Price discrimination occurs when the same commodity is sold at different prices to different consumers (Phlips, 1983). This is possible when market characteristics differ from those of perfect competition. In fact, as Mankiw (2009) notes, the main example of price discrimination is based on the rational behaviour of the monopolist who charges different prices to each customer to increase profits, extracting the maximum price everyone is willing to pay. However, other situations may allow it, such as market failures and/or imperfect information.

Price Discrimination Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Price Discrimination *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Price Discrimination *

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Professional Tools

Price Discrimination videos and downloads *

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Further Reading

Price Discrimination web and print resources *

Price Discrimination references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Arnold, R.A. (2008) Microeconomics. Cengage Learning.
  • Barrows, D. and Smithin, J. (2008) Fundamentals of Economics for Business. World Scientific.
  • BBC News (1998) Foreigner Wins Case Against Price Discrimination in Russia. 20 April. Available at: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/80605.stm [Accessed on 14 October 2011].
  • Bester, H. and Petrakis, E. (1994) Coupons and Oligopolistic Price Discrimination. International Journal of Industrial Organization, Vol. 14(2), pp. 227-242.

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