Publications by authors named "Martin Labaj"

Article Synopsis
  • This study analyzes the impact of regulatory changes on competition and entry decisions in the Portuguese retail pharmacy market after 2004 and 2007.
  • The liberalization of OTC drug sales and pharmacy ownership lowered entry thresholds, allowing for greater profit potential, but increased competition among existing pharmacies.
  • Findings suggest that while it has become easier for new pharmacies to enter the market, the existing competition is tougher, and current patient-to-pharmacy ratio regulations are likely too restrictive, limiting potential market entry.
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The present paper provides first empirical evidence on the relationship between market size and the number of firms in the healthcare industry for a transition economy. We estimate market-size thresholds required to support different numbers of suppliers (firms) for three occupations in the healthcare industry in a large number of distinct geographic markets in Slovakia, taking into account the spatial interaction between local markets. The empirical analysis is carried out for three time periods (1995, 2001 and 2010) which characterise different stages of the transition process.

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