David Ingram — Not a typo, monopsony in spotlight in U.S. cable deal

If U.S. antitrust enforcers decide to challenge the proposed $45 billion merger of Comcast Corp and Time Warner Cable Inc, it may be because of an idea with a funny-sounding name that has been gaining currency in government offices.

The idea is monopsony power, the mirror image of the better-known monopoly power but a concept that is just as old.

A monopoly is one seller with many buyers, while a monopsony (pronounced muh-NOP-suh-nee) is one buyer with many sellers. A textbook example is a milk processor that is the only option for dairy farmers to sell to, and that then forces farmers to sell for less.

Reuters
Not a typo, monopsony in spotlight in U.S. cable deal
David Ingram

Mark Thoma — 'Time to Get Real on Comcast-Time Warner'

In general, I don't think that we pay enough attention to the problems that are associated with market power.

Economist's View
'Time to Get Real on Comcast-Time Warner'
Mark Thoma | Professor of Economics, University of Oregon