Helping Consumers Know Themselves

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2011
Volume: 101
Issue: 3
Pages: 417-22

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Firms sometimes know more about a consumer's expected usage than the consumer herself. We explore the consequences of this reversal in the information asymmetry. We analyze the consequences of making consumers more informed about themselves. While making consumers more informed decreases their expenditure conditional on a given set of prices, equilibrium prices may increase, offsetting the direct benefit of information. We discuss theoretical and practical issues surrounding so-called RECAP regulation that would require firms to provide each consumer with information about her own usage of the firm's product.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:101:y:2011:i:3:p:417-22
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-26