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Abstract
We study a heretofore unexamined type of product differentiation, horizontally differentiated
products with differential costs, and apply the analysis to retail pricing of fluid milk
products. The theoretical models yield unique predictions for the relationship among
prices of the four horizontally differentiated fluid milk products (skim, 1%, 2%, and
whole milk) and the impacts of butterfat and nonfat milk costs on prices, depending upon
the form of retail competition. An empirical analysis of retail milk pricing for four major
cities in California enables tests to be conducted of which form of behavior best characterizes
grocery retailing in these cities.