Evaluating Efficient Multilateral Interchange Fees: Evidence from End-User Benefits

Egor Krivosheya (egor_krivosheya@skolkovo.ru)
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Egor Krivosheya: National Research University Higher School of Economics

HSE Working papers from National Research University Higher School of Economics

Abstract: This article evaluates the efficiency of current MIF rates for the Russian market and identifies the effects of their changes. In order to estimate the demand of end users and end-user surpluses the study uses the adopted version of the Bedre-Defolie and Calvano (2013) model as well as representative samples of 800 traditional (offline) Russian merchants, 1500 Russian individuals and 7 banks from the top 20 that cover more than 80% of the Russian issuing and acquiring markets and the end-user benefits. Results confirm the efficiency of currently set MIF rates. Comparative statics analysis confirms that the changes in MIF rates never lead to a Pareto improvement, while the total surplus changes are asymmetric across different market parts. The article also shows that once the realistic assumptions are introduced to the models (e.g., information asymmetry, imperfect pass-through of changes) the end-user welfare is distorted more severely as a result of the MIF rates changes. The first-best policy for the Russian regulator and legislators is the use of alternative (non-tariff) stimulating measures for a cashless economy in order to isolate the effect of changes to the intended groups

Keywords: Retail payments; payment cards; interchange fees; efficiency; optimal regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D53 E42 G21 L14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 64 pages
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ban, nep-cis, nep-mac, nep-pay and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published in WP BRP Series: Financial Economics / FE, July 2018, pages - 64

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