In this research, the authors look at how company mergers impact competition among sellers. They used math models to study how mergers affect prices and profits in different scenarios. They found that when companies merge, they can make more money, even without saving costs. This often means that rivals and customers end up with less benefit and may face higher prices. If the merging companies save a lot on costs, others outside the merger circle also see reduced profits and less satisfaction. This study suggests that mergers in competitive markets can sometimes lead to negative effects for consumers and rival companies.