Market structure and price-cost margins in Philippine manufacturing industries

We test the hypothesis that variations in industry price-cost margins (PCM) performance are explained by sellers' various structure and conduct variables such as sellers' concentration (i.e., HHI for value added), capital-output ratio, barrier to entry, industry demand growth rate, import penetration export share, and degree of foreign participation (multinational) in four-digit Philippines Standard Industrial Classification manufacturing industries. The statistical analyses are a series of multiple regression equations relating the PCM to the previously-mentioned explanatory variables. Estimation results show a generally positive relationship between sellers' concentration, capital intensity, degree of foreign participation and the PCM. Industry growth rate may either increase or reduce PCM. Imports and exports lower PCM.