One TV, One Price?

Journal article: We study television prices across European countries and regions. Quality as measured by observable characteristics of televisions accounts for a large share of the international dispersion in prices. Rich economies tend to consume higher-quality goods, but sizeable international price differentials exist even for identical televisions. The valuation of brands differs significantly across borders. EMU countries display lower price dispersion but not necessarily because of the single currency. Absolute price differentials and relative price volatility increase with exchange rate volatility, but not with transport costs. Exchange rate pass-through is low in the short run but high in the long run.

Author(s)

Jean Imbs, Haroon Mumtaz, Morten O. Ravn, Hélène Rey

Journal
  • Scandinavian Journal of Economics
Date of publication
  • 2010
Keywords JEL
F15 F23 F41
Keywords
  • International and regional price differences
  • Border effect
  • Brand perception
Pages
  • 753-781
Version
  • 1
Volume
  • 112