Consumer Search, Collusion, and Artificial Intelligence

Consumer Search, Collusion, and Artificial Intelligence PDF Author: Mike P. Vo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
We use both economic theory and experiments with Artificial Intelligence (AI) pricing agents to study the roles of consumer search friction on collusion and implications on market prices and consumer welfare. By developing an oligopoly model in which consumers sequentially search for the best product with advertised prices, we find that collusion is easier to sustain with lower search costs. On the other hand, increasing search costs can reduce the collusive price. However, the price reduction is insufficient to increase the consumer surplus if the collusion sustains. Our experiments show that simple reinforcement learning algorithms (Q-learning) manage to adopt a trigger-price strategy to keep prices above the competitive level in a frictional market.

Consumer Search, Collusion, and Artificial Intelligence

Consumer Search, Collusion, and Artificial Intelligence PDF Author: Mike P. Vo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
We use both economic theory and experiments with Artificial Intelligence (AI) pricing agents to study the roles of consumer search friction on collusion and implications on market prices and consumer welfare. By developing an oligopoly model in which consumers sequentially search for the best product with advertised prices, we find that collusion is easier to sustain with lower search costs. On the other hand, increasing search costs can reduce the collusive price. However, the price reduction is insufficient to increase the consumer surplus if the collusion sustains. Our experiments show that simple reinforcement learning algorithms (Q-learning) manage to adopt a trigger-price strategy to keep prices above the competitive level in a frictional market.

Virtual Competition

Virtual Competition PDF Author: Ariel Ezrachi
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674545478
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
“A fascinating book about how platform internet companies (Amazon, Facebook, and so on) are changing the norms of economic competition.” —Fast Company Shoppers with a bargain-hunting impulse and internet access can find a universe of products at their fingertips. But is there a dark side to internet commerce? This thought-provoking exposé invites us to explore how sophisticated algorithms and data-crunching are changing the nature of market competition, and not always for the better. Introducing into the policy lexicon terms such as algorithmic collusion, behavioral discrimination, and super-platforms, Ariel Ezrachi and Maurice E. Stucke explore the resulting impact on competition, our democratic ideals, our wallets, and our well-being. “We owe the authors our deep gratitude for anticipating and explaining the consequences of living in a world in which black boxes collude and leave no trails behind. They make it clear that in a world of big data and algorithmic pricing, consumers are outgunned and antitrust laws are outdated, especially in the United States.” —Science “A convincing argument that there can be a darker side to the growth of digital commerce. The replacement of the invisible hand of competition by the digitized hand of internet commerce can give rise to anticompetitive behavior that the competition authorities are ill equipped to deal with.” —Burton G. Malkiel, Wall Street Journal “A convincing case for the need to rethink competition law to cope with algorithmic capitalism’s potential for malfeasance.” —John Naughton, The Observer

Collusion by Algorithm

Collusion by Algorithm PDF Author: Jeanine Miklós-Thal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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Book Description
We build a game-theoretic model to examine how better demand forecasting due to algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence affects the sustainability of collusion in an industry. We find that while better forecasting allows colluding firms to better tailor prices to demand conditions, it also increases each firm's temptation to deviate to a lower price in time periods of high predicted demand. Overall, our research suggests that, despite concerns expressed by policymakers, better forecasting and algorithms can lead to lower prices and higher consumer surplus.

The Economics of Artificial Intelligence

The Economics of Artificial Intelligence PDF Author: Ajay Agrawal
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226833127
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 172

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Book Description
A timely investigation of the potential economic effects, both realized and unrealized, of artificial intelligence within the United States healthcare system. In sweeping conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on many sectors of the economy, healthcare has received relatively little attention. Yet it seems unlikely that an industry that represents nearly one-fifth of the economy could escape the efficiency and cost-driven disruptions of AI. The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: Health Care Challenges brings together contributions from health economists, physicians, philosophers, and scholars in law, public health, and machine learning to identify the primary barriers to entry of AI in the healthcare sector. Across original papers and in wide-ranging responses, the contributors analyze barriers of four types: incentives, management, data availability, and regulation. They also suggest that AI has the potential to improve outcomes and lower costs. Understanding both the benefits of and barriers to AI adoption is essential for designing policies that will affect the evolution of the healthcare system.

Algorithmic Antitrust

Algorithmic Antitrust PDF Author: Aurelien Portuese
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030858596
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
Algorithms are ubiquitous in our daily lives. They affect the way we shop, interact, and make exchanges on the marketplace. In this regard, algorithms can also shape competition on the marketplace. Companies employ algorithms as technologically innovative tools in an effort to edge out competitors. Antitrust agencies have increasingly recognized the competitive benefits, but also competitive risks that algorithms entail. Over the last few years, many algorithm-driven companies in the digital economy have been investigated, prosecuted and fined, mostly for allegedly unfair algorithm design. Legislative proposals aim at regulating the way algorithms shape competition. Consequently, a so-called “algorithmic antitrust” theory and practice have also emerged. This book provides a more innovation-driven perspective on the way antitrust agencies should approach algorithmic antitrust. To date, the analysis of algorithmic antitrust has predominantly been shaped by pessimistic approaches to the risks of algorithms on the competitive environment. With the benefit of the lessons learned over the last few years, this book assesses whether these risks have actually materialized and whether antitrust laws need to be adapted accordingly. Effective algorithmic antitrust requires to adequately assess the pro- and anti-competitive effects of algorithms on the basis of concrete evidence and innovation-related concerns. With a particular emphasis on the European perspective, this book brings together experts and scrutinizes on the implications of algorithmic antitrust for regulation and innovation.

Product Rankings, AI Pricing Algorithms, and Collusion

Product Rankings, AI Pricing Algorithms, and Collusion PDF Author: Liying Qiu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Reinforcement learning (RL) based pricing algorithms have been shown to tacitly collude to set supra-competitive prices in oligopoly models of repeated price competition. We investigate the impact of ranking systems, a common feature of online marketplaces, on algorithmic collusion in prices. We study experimentally the behavior of algorithms powered by Artificial Intelligence (deep Q-learning) in a workhorse duopoly model of repeated price competition in the presence of product rankings. Through extensive experiments, we find that the introduction of the ranking system significantly mitigates the tacit collusion that stems from RL based pricing. The ranking system increases the incentives for the RL agents to deviate from a collusive price which in turn requires more complicated punishment strategies to prevent deviation and sustain collusive prices. These punishment strategies are harder to learn for RL algorithms in non stationary environments and the high collusive prices are not sustained as a result. The ranking system's mitigation effect is moderated by the horizontal differentiation between the products offered by the firms and the stickiness of product ranks. In particular, when products are more horizontally differentiated from each other and when past sales have a larger influence on product ranks (sticky ranking), the prices charged by the two firms are higher and the ranking system's mitigation effect is weaker. However, in both cases, prices in the presence of ranking are lower than that in the absence of ranking. Our analysis sheds light on the impact of ranking systems on consumer welfare and on design of ranking systems to prevent algorithmic pricing collusion.

Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Consumer Behavior Research

Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Consumer Behavior Research PDF Author: Taewoo Kim
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781638282662
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Consumer Behavior Research reviews the state of the art of behavioral consumer research involving AI-human interactions and divides the literature into two primary areas based on whether the reported effects are instantiations of consumers displaying a positive or negative response to encounters with AI.

Artificial Intelligence Predicts Consumer Behavioral Tool

Artificial Intelligence Predicts Consumer Behavioral Tool PDF Author: Johnny Ch Lok
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
Predictive search will improve the quality of search results, and provide new insights into consumers' behavior and the moments which matter to them. Search will give recommendation into tailored how consumer individual choice in consumption process. Several of the largest online platforms already use machine learning to improve predictive consumer behavioral search results. For example, Google's rank brain technology adds research by understanding the context in which the consumer has entered it. Over time, rank brain will learn further from user behaviors Amazon's DSSTNE ( pronouned destiny) learns from shoppers' purchasing habits and consumption behavior to offer better product recommend actions, which Amazon can offer before a consumer has entered anything into the search bar. However, this technology is not independent of human input. For example, Google engineers will periodically retain the rank brain system to improve the models it uses. For another example, in 2016 year, Apple computer revamped its photos app to allow consumers to search for specific items in the phots, they want to find, not just dates and locations. Each photo that an intelligent phone or intelligent pad user takes goes through 11 billion computations, so that photos can understand exactly what is the photography.It seems that in future, (AI) machine learning will allow search to evolve even further. Search engineers will deliver refined recommendations to their business users and use less human input to predict consumers' needs. For IBM computer example, it indicated 90% of the data that exists today has been created in the last two years. This huge explosion of data gives brands the opportunity to quickly spot and react to the latest trends, fashion and fads among its clients and potential clients. This will allow companies to better engage with younger consumers, who gain influence access to the latest trends, and use the brands. They associate with to help define who they are as individuals. Thus, brands have to identify and make use of them before consumers move on, but the vast quantity of data available makes. This a resource-intensive task. For next example, Lesara, a based online clothes store, uses this machine learning to inform its product decision often gathering information from internal and external sources. When its trends -spotting shoes. Lesara has a range of over 20 styles and sells hundreds of pairs a day. It focus on giving consumers, the very latest trends allow Lesara to develop on average of 50,000 new items each year. It compared to 11,000 old items each year. Thus, (AI) brain seems to human brain to own analytical ability to predict consumer behaviors.

Artificial Intelligence and Marketing Consumer Behavioral Prediction

Artificial Intelligence and Marketing Consumer Behavioral Prediction PDF Author: Johnny Ch Lok
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781661975272
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
Information economists suggest that both buyers and sells have an incentive to hide or reveal private information, and these incentives are crucial for market efficiency. Data technology that reveals consumers type could facilitate a better match between product and consumer type, and data technology that helps buyers to assess product quality could encourage high quality production. Thus, (AI) big data technology can also assist consumers to gather different manufacturers' data to compare what their advantages and disadvantages of their products are. Then, consumers can make comparison to choose which brand of product is the suitable to whom to buy in these more choice consumption market. (AI) learning machine will gather similar brand their products' data to analyze to make conclusion to let consumers know or feel to make final judge to find what advantages or disadvantages of these sample brands of similar products' comparison from internet. On the other hand, it means that manufacturers can gather consumers' past purchase behaviors or purchase experience from (AI) big data gathering method to record and analyze to give opinions to let manufacturers to know what reasons or factors influence consumers choose not to buy their products from internet.(AI) big data gathering consumer behavior prediction method can give these benefits to manufacturers and consumers both, such as: New concerns arise because (AI) technological advance which have enables reducing cost of collecting, storing, processing and using data in mass quantities extend information beyond a single transaction. These advances are often summarized by the big data, it means charge volume of transaction-level data that could identify individual consumers by itself or in combination with the datasets.The popular (AI) takes big data as in input in order to understand, predict and influence consumer behavior. Modern (AI) is used by legitimate companies, could improve management efficiency motivate innovations and better match demand and supply. But (AI) in the wrong hand, also allows the mass production of fraud and deception. Since, data can be stored, traded and used long after the transaction. Future data use is likely to grow with data processing technology, such as (AI) big data gathering consumer and manufacturer behavioral prediction method from internet channel. Thus, future (AI) big data learning machine can also help consumers to choose the best brand of manufacturer's products among different brands of manufacturers products choice to compare their past sale performance from internet. They can apply (AI) big data statistic method to gather all different manufacturers' similar products past sale data to compare their advantages and disadvantages to make the best decision to choose to buy which brand of product is the most suitable to them to buy to use. It seems (AI) big data can also help consumers to predict any manufacturers' manufacturing behaviors or manufacturing performance whether they are improving their product quality or are deteriorating their product quality. Thus, (AI) big data tool is also important to help customers to predict future the different brands of manufacturer performance will have improvement in possible.

Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Behavior Relationship

Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Behavior Relationship PDF Author: Johnny Ch Lok
Publisher: Artificial Intelligence and Company
ISBN: 9781723773860
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 378

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Book Description
Prepare This book has these two research questions need to be answered? (1)Can apply (AI) learning machine predict consumer behaviors? (2)Can (AI) learning machine replace human marketing research method, e.g. survey or human psychological and micro and macro economic methods to predict consumer behaviors more accurate? Nowadays, many businessmen or marketing research professional hope to apply different methods to predict consumer behaviors in order to know what will be future market activities and market changes to help them to choose to implement what kinds of marketing strategies more accurately. The methods include economic environmental change prediction method, consumer individual psychological change prediction method, micro or macro behavioral economic environmental change prediction method, marketing environmental change prediction method etc. different kinds of methods which can be applied to predict how consumer behavioral changes to influence whose behavioral consumption to the manufacturer products sale within one to two years short term or three to five years middle term, even above five years long term business plans. Hence, if the product manufacturers can apply the most suitable consumer behavioral prediction method to predict how consumers' choice will be changed to influence their products sale easily. It will have more beneficial intangible and tangible advantages to achieve the their product easier sale aim to ensure their businesses' future market share to be increased more easier to their countries' choice target sale markets. Otherwise, if they applied the inaccurate consumer behavioral prediction methods to predict how their consumers' behavioral changes wrongly. Then, it will influence their market shares to be same level, even it will decrease their market shares, when their consumer behavioral prediction inaccurately. In my this book first part, I concentrate on indicate whether any artificial intelligence (AI) tools will be one kind of good consumer behavioral prediction method to be choose to apply to predict consumer behaviors. I shall indicate some examples, cases to give reasonable evidences to analyze whether (AI) tools will be one kind suitable tool to be applied to predict when and how consumer behavioral changes. If (AI) can be one kind tool to attempt to be applied to predict when and how consumer behavioral changes. Will it replace other kinds of methods to predict consumer behaviors? Does it have weaknesses to be applied to predict consumer behaviors, instead of strengths? Can it be applied to predict consumer behaviors depending on any situations of only some situation? Finally, I believe that any readers can find answers to answer above these questions in this book. In my this book second part, I shall explain why and how human can possible apply (AI) tool to predict consumer individual emotion. I shall indicate case studies to explain how consumer individual better or worse emotion how to influence whose consumption behavior in different situation. Finally, I shall indicate evidences to conclude how and why (AI) tool that can be used to predict consumer individual emotion and it will have direct relationship to influence consumption behavior, as well as how (AI) tool can assist businessmen to judge whether what reasons case the customer does not choose to buy its product, it is possible because the product high price factor, poor product quality or poor staff service performance or attitude etc. different factors to influence the consumer decides to choose to buy the other product consequently, when the (AI) tool can confirm consumer has good or bad emotion to judge what factors are the causes his decision making at the moment. Readers can understand why and how (AI) tool can be attempt to be applied to predict customer emotion and it can influence positive or negative consumption behavior to the product clearly in this part.