Generic and Branded Pharmaceutical Pricing: Competition Under Switching Costs*
利用瑞典全国处方和匹配的社会经济数据，研究原研药与仿制药竞争中的品牌溢价和转换成本，通过动态寡头模型评估延长采购期和专家决策对价格的影响。
Abstract This article examines pricing in pharmaceutical markets where branded products face competition from generics. After providing evidence for brand premia and switching costs using prescription-level and matched socioeconomic data for the entire Swedish population, I estimate a dynamic oligopoly model and evaluate counterfactual policies that reduce the impact of frictions on pricing. Lengthening the procurement period reduces the impact of switching costs on prices. The policy increases prices on average, but more so for individuals with infrequent consumption, high education and income. In a counterfactual where brand choice decisions are moved from patients to medical experts, prices fall substantially.