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Search, Obfuscation, and Price Elasticities on the Internet

Author

Listed:
  • Glenn Ellison
  • Sara Fisher Ellison
Abstract
We examine the competition between a group of Internet retailers that operate in an environment where a price search engine plays a dominant role. We show that for some products in this environment, the easy price search makes demand tremendously price-sensitive. Retailers, though, engage in obfuscation---practices that frustrate consumer search or make it less damaging to firms---resulting in much less price sensitivity on other products. We discuss several models of obfuscation and examine its effects on demand and markups empirically. Observed markups are adequate to allow efficient online retailers to survive.

Suggested Citation

  • Glenn Ellison & Sara Fisher Ellison, 2004. "Search, Obfuscation, and Price Elasticities on the Internet," NBER Working Papers 10570, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:10570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design

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