This presentation by the Oxera team summarises the key findings of their research on gender differences in surveys for market definition and merger analysis submitted to the OECD project on Gender inclusive competition policy. It was delivered during a workshop held virtually on 7 October 2021. More materials on the topic can be found at http://oe.cd/gicp. This presentation was uploaded with the authors’ consent.

1. Gender in
competition
analysis
Prepared for the OECD
Lola Damstra, Consultant
Dr Gunnar Niels, Partner
October 2021

2. Overview
• Background
• Analytical framework
• Case studies
• Implications for competition policy
• Q&A
2
Feel free to ask questions
using the chat function

3. Background
3

4. The OECD initiative
Research for gender-inclusive competition policy
‘Gender data gap’ in a range of areas, including competition policy
The OECD has launched a gender-inclusive competition policy initiative
Oxera was selected as one of the seven studies to this initiative
Oxera analysed consumer surveys undertaken for clients and by a number of
national competition authorities (NCAs)
4

5. Oxera’s study
Where do our surveys come from?
Conducted by:
• Netherlands Authority for
Consumers and Markets (ACM)
• UK Competition and Markets
Authority (CMA)
• Canadian Competition Bureau
• Mexican Federal Institute of
Telecommunications (IFT)
• Oxera, on behalf of clients
Sectors:
• Supermarkets
• Broadband services
• Mobile services
• Banking
• Insurance
• Sports channels
• Healthcare providers
Strictly confidential 5

6. Analytical framework
6

7. Analytical framework
Are there significant gender differences and do they
matter for the competition assessment
Addressing the gender data gap
Is there a difference in consumer behaviour between men and women?
Regression on responses to question of interest using gender and control variables
Yes, there are statistically significant
differences between men and women
Identify question of interest and variables that could influence the response
Assess the implications for
competition policy
No statistically significant differences
in responses between men and women
Surveys can be analysed in the
aggregate
7

8. Analytical framework
How do differences matter for competition
policy?
8
Ability to differentiate between gender?
Not able to
differentiate by
gender
Can the firm
profitably raise prices
for all customers?
Beware of the
‘Toothless fallacy’
Yes, able to product
differentiate
Separate relevant markets or separate
relevant effects
Yes, able to price
differentiate
Depends on the size
of the two groups
Depends on the
price sensitivity of
the two groups

9. Case studies
9

10. Case study findings (i)
10
Significant differences by gender
watching behaviour of sports
channels
diversion ratios and types of
products purchased in grocery
stores
women less likely to compare
separate components and package
holidays
IPR suggests different incentives
for the merged parties to raise
prices
ability to raise prices depends on
the ability to differentiate and the
size of the groups
the extent to which remedies are
effective differs
?
?

11. Case study findings (ii)
11
Significant differences by gender
Women are more likely to switch
insurance if it doesn’t offer
coverage for preferred treatment
centre
men are more likely to switch
service contract provider
changes in prices or product
offering may affect women
differently from men
bargaining position of insurance
providers with treatment centre is
weaker for female treatments

12. Implications for competition
policy
12

13. Implications for competition policy
Analysis
13
If it’s not possible to differentiate, the
effect depends on the size of the
groups, and the level of switching
by the price-sensitive group after a
price increase
There tend to be significant differences by gender in terms of
substitution preferences and switching behaviour
Where firms involved can
differentiate by gender, this could
lead to significantly more harm to
one consumer group compared to
the aggregate
?
?

14. Implications for competition policy
Survey design
Ask about gender in a non-binary way.
Ask questions about other relevant characteristics of
respondents.
Ask questions that enable assessing price sensitivity and
the likelihood of switching for both groups separately.
Ask a broad question upfront on whether respondents
are interested in purchasing the product(s) in question to
enable the relative size of the groups.
14

15. Contact: Lola Damstra
Tel: +31 (0) 2089 91107
Email: lola.damstra@oxera.com
Oxera Consulting LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England
no. OC392464, registered office: Park Central, 40/41 Park End Street,
Oxford OX1 1JD, UK; in Belgium, no. 0651 990 151, branch office: Avenue
Louise 81, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; and in Italy, REA no. RM - 1530473,
branch office: Via delle Quattro Fontane 15, 00184 Rome, Italy. Oxera
Consulting (France) LLP, a French branch, registered office: 60 Avenue
Charles de Gaulle, CS 60016, 92573 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France and
registered in Nanterre, RCS no. 844 900 407 00025. Oxera Consulting
(Netherlands) LLP, a Dutch branch, registered office: Strawinskylaan
3051, 1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands and registered in
Amsterdam, KvK no. 72446218. Oxera Consulting GmbH is registered in
Germany, no. HRB 148781 B (Local Court of Charlottenburg), registered
office: Rahel-Hirsch-Straße 10, Berlin 10557, Germany.
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the
material and the integrity of the analysis presented herein, Oxera accepts
no liability for any actions taken on the basis of its contents.
No Oxera entity is either authorised or regulated by any Financial Authority
or Regulation within any of the countries within which it operates or
provides services. Anyone considering a specific investment should
consult their own broker or other investment adviser. Oxera accepts no
liability for any specific investment decision, which must be at the
investor’s own risk.
© Oxera 2021. All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short
passages for the purposes of criticism or review, no part may be used or
reproduced without permission.
www.oxera.com
Follow us on Twitter @OxeraConsulting