PhD Thesis Defense by Egor Krivosheya: 'Multilateral interchange fee efficiency evaluation: the case of the Russian retail payment cards market'

Abstract
This thesis presents the mechanism for the evaluation of multilateral interchange fees efficiency. The mechanism is used for Russian retail payments market in order to test the efficiency of interchange fees currently set by payment systems. Empirical interchange fee evaluation mechanism is based on theoretical models of retail payments market equilibrium and uses proprietary nation-wide representative surveys of individuals (n=1500), merchants (n=800) and banks (7 banks from top 20, which collectively cover more than 80% of the issuing and acquiring markets) to estimate end-user benefits and other model parameters. Interchange fees are evaluated using three definitions of interchange fee efficiency: weak form (individual utility maximization of participants), semi-strong form (total welfare maximization) and strong form (Pareto efficiency). The key results of the thesis support efficiency of currently set interchange fees. The thesis presents the first ex-ante analysis of regulatory intervention in tariff formation in the retail payments market and implies that Russian regulator should consider alternative (non-tariff) stimulating measures to foster cashless payments market development.