The demand‐boost theory of exclusive dealing

This paper unifies various approaches to the analysis of exclusive dealing that so far have been regarded as distinct. The common element of these approaches is that firms depart from efficient pricing,raising marginal prices above marginal costs. We show that with distorted prices, exclusive dealing can be directly profitable and anti-competitive provided that the dominant firm enjoys a strong competitive advantage over rivals. The dominant firm gains directly, rather than in the future or in adjacent markets, thanks to the boost in demand it enjoys when buyers sign exclusive contracts. We discuss the implication of the theory for antitrust policy.