• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.51-69
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• 2006

This paper analyze the degree of competitiveness of the refining industry after price liberalization. We use two well-known methods: the first is Bresnahan (1982) and Lau (1982) method that estimates a structural model consisting of a demand relation and supply relation and the second is Panzar and Rosse (1987) method that estimates non structural model of the sum of elasticities of gross revenue with respect to input prices. Results from two models show mixed sign, however, our results indicate that price liberalization improved the degree of competitiveness.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.201-211
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• 2016

This paper uses the Panzar Rosse model to investigate the competitive conditions in the Korean life insurance companies over the period of 1999 2012. We break down the entire sample period into four distinctive groups and analyze the competitiveness of each period. The results indicate that for the pre-introduction of Bancassurance period, the H-statistic is -1.3984 and the life insurance market is found to be in monopoly or cartel. However, for the post-introduction of Bancassurance period, the H-statistic is 0.9107 and the life insurance market appears to be in monopolistic competition. The results from the introduction of retirement pension system are very similar to those of the introduction of Bancassurance. Overall, the findings indicate that the Korean life insurance market is in long-run equilibrium before the new system introduction, but make adjustments to the new equilibrium.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.33-55
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• 2011

Market concentration in the Korean banking industry has markedly increased since the financial crisis of 1997-1998 because of M&As, P&As, and consolidation of banks. With this change, there has been a growing concern over market power in the Korean banking sector. We examine the effects of market concentration on bank efficiency and competition for the period of 1992-2006. Three different indicators of bank inefficiency are used in this study, including X-inefficiency that is derived from the directional technology distance function. The level of competition is measured by both the H-statistic of the Panzar-Rosse model and the level of the net interest margin and its standard deviation. Empirical results indicate that market concentration has not improved bank efficiency through scale economies or scope economies. Instead, recent mergers, acquisitions and consolidation of banks resulted in an increase in inefficiency measured by the three different indicators: X-inefficiency, labor inefficiency and asset inefficiency. While an increase in market share of individual banks improved bank efficiency, an increase in the overall market concentration ratio resulted in lower efficiency. Our study also finds that the Korean banking sector has been monopolistically competitive throughout the sample period except for the crisis period according to the H-statistic. Although an increase in market concentration ratio has not changed the overall level of bank competition, it has a positive significant effect on the level of the average interest margin.