An Empirical Analysis of Search Costs and Price Dispersion

An Empirical Analysis of Search Costs and Price Dispersion PDF Author: Joshua Sherman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
We exploit cross-sectional and temporal differences in search intensity in order to examine the relationship between search costs and price dispersion using a hand-collected panel data set from Jerusalem's Shuk Mahane Yehuda outdoor market. We present empirical evidence that price dispersion increases with the cost of search using several different measures of price dispersion, however, our interpretation of this finding is sensitive to the search proxy in question. We also address several acute difficulties facing empiricists seeking to test theoretical price-dispersion models in which consumers are heterogeneous in their search behavior.

An Empirical Analysis of Search Costs and Price Dispersion

An Empirical Analysis of Search Costs and Price Dispersion PDF Author: Joshua Sherman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
We exploit cross-sectional and temporal differences in search intensity in order to examine the relationship between search costs and price dispersion using a hand-collected panel data set from Jerusalem's Shuk Mahane Yehuda outdoor market. We present empirical evidence that price dispersion increases with the cost of search using several different measures of price dispersion, however, our interpretation of this finding is sensitive to the search proxy in question. We also address several acute difficulties facing empiricists seeking to test theoretical price-dispersion models in which consumers are heterogeneous in their search behavior.

Existence and Persistence of Price Dispersion

Existence and Persistence of Price Dispersion PDF Author: Saul Lach
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Book Description
Using a unique data set on store-level monthly prices of four homogenous products sold in Israel, I study the existence and characteristics of the dispersion of prices across stores, as well as its persistence over time. I find that price dispersion prevails even after controlling for observed and unobserved product heterogeneity. Moreover, intra-distribution mobility is significant: stores move up and down the cross-sectional price distribution. Thus, consumers cannot learn about stores that consistently post low prices. As a consequence, price dispersion does not disappear and persists over time as predicted by Varian's (1980) model of sales

Consumer Search Behavior and Its Effect on Markets

Consumer Search Behavior and Its Effect on Markets PDF Author: Brian T. Ratchford
Publisher: Now Publishers Inc
ISBN: 1601982003
Category : Consumers
Languages : en
Pages : 89

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Book Description
Consumer Search Behavior and its Effect on Markets focuses on the consumer side of the market, on what is known about how consumers search for needed information, and on how this impacts the behavior of markets. The author discusses three broad strands of this literature -- normative models of search and their application to consumer search; empirical studies of the search process; and implications of consumer search for the behavior of markets, including pricing, advertising and retailing. In general, the author examines external search -- the search for information from sources other than memory. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the Internet on markets. Consumer Search Behavior and its Effect on Markets also examines the broader issues about alternatives considered, sources consulted, extent of consumer knowledge, and the impact of these factors on markets and marketing institutions.

Understanding the Digital Economy

Understanding the Digital Economy PDF Author: Erik Brynjolfsson
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262523301
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 412

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Book Description
The rapid growth of electronic commerce, along with changes in information, computing, and communications, is having a profound effect on the United States economy. President Clinton recently directed the National Economic Council, in consultation with executive branch agencies, to analyze the economic implications of the Internet and electronic commerce domestically and internationally, and to consider new types of data collection and research that could be undertaken by public and private organizations. This book contains work presented at a conference held by executive branch agencies in May 1999 at the Department of Commerce. The goals of the conference were to assess current research on the digital economy, to engage the private sector in developing the research that informs investment and policy decisions, and to promote better understanding of the growth and socioeconomic implications of information technology and electronic commerce. Aspects of the digital economy addressed include macroeconomic assessment, organizational change, small business, access, market structure and competition, and employment and the workforce.

Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy

Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy PDF Author: Avi Goldfarb
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022620684X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 510

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Book Description
There is a small and growing literature that explores the impact of digitization in a variety of contexts, but its economic consequences, surprisingly, remain poorly understood. This volume aims to set the agenda for research in the economics of digitization, with each chapter identifying a promising area of research. "Economics of Digitization "identifies urgent topics with research already underway that warrant further exploration from economists. In addition to the growing importance of digitization itself, digital technologies have some features that suggest that many well-studied economic models may not apply and, indeed, so many aspects of the digital economy throw normal economics in a loop. "Economics of Digitization" will be one of the first to focus on the economic implications of digitization and to bring together leading scholars in the economics of digitization to explore emerging research.

Equilibrium Price Dispersion in Retail Markets for Prescription Drugs

Equilibrium Price Dispersion in Retail Markets for Prescription Drugs PDF Author: Alan T. Sorensen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This study seeks to establish the empirical importance of price dispersion due to costly consumer search by examining retail prices for prescription drugs. Posted prices in two geographically distinct markets are shown to vary considerably across pharmacies within the same market, even after one controls for variation due to pharmacy differences. Pharmacy heterogeneity accounts for at most one-third of the observed price dispersion. The empirical analysis hinges on the observation that consumers' incentives to price-shop depend on characteristics of the drug therapy. Cross-sectional patterns in price distributions across drugs are consistent with the predictions of a search model: prices for repeatedly purchased prescriptions (for which the expected benefits of search are highest) exhibit significant reductions in both dispersion and price-cost margins.

Economics and Information Systems

Economics and Information Systems PDF Author: Terrence Hendershott
Publisher: Elsevier Science Limited
ISBN: 9780444517715
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 692

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Book Description
Contains chapters that focus on the individual interrelated subjects regarding the economics of information systems: the adoption and diffusion of information technologies; the pricing of data communications; the means and tactics firms us to compete with each other; and the manner in which firms interact with and distribute goods to customers.

Price Dispersion and Retailer Behavior

Price Dispersion and Retailer Behavior PDF Author: Ying Zhao
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description


The Economics of the Internet and E-commerce

The Economics of the Internet and E-commerce PDF Author: Michael R. Baye
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0762309717
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 280

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Book Description
The first six chapters of the text examine four broad issues: the role of the Internet in fostering competition, its impact on price dispersion and on business-to-business transactions, and the importance of reputation and trust in the new economy. The last four chapters examine the impact of the Internet on the organization of firms, the efficiency of auctions in the Internet age, how consumers choose websites and acquire product information, and the growing problem of congestion on the Internet.

Discriminatory Pricing of Over-the-Counter Derivatives

Discriminatory Pricing of Over-the-Counter Derivatives PDF Author: Hau Harald
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498303773
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description
New regulatory data reveal extensive price discrimination against non-financial clients in the FX derivatives market. The client at the 90th percentile pays an effective spread of 0.5%, while the bottom quarter incur transaction costs of less than 0.02%. Consistent with models of search frictions in over-the-counter markets, dealers charge higher spreads to less sophisticated clients. However, price discrimination is eliminated when clients trade through multi-dealer request-for-quote platforms. We also document that dealers extract rents from captive clients and market opacity, but only for contracts negotiated bilaterally with unsophisticated clients.