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American Economic Review: Vol. 91 No. 3 (June 2001)
AER Volume. 91, Issue 3 | 
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Information Gatekeepers on the Internet and the Competitiveness of Homogeneous Product Markets
Article Citation
Baye, Michael R., and
John Morgan. 2001. "Information Gatekeepers on the Internet and the Competitiveness of Homogeneous Product Markets."
American Economic Review,
91(3): 454-474.
DOI: 10.1257/aer.91.3.454
DOI: 10.1257/aer.91.3.454
Abstract
We examine the equilibrium interaction between a market for price information (controlled by a gatekeeper) and the homogenous product market it serves. The gatekeeper charges fees to firms that advertise prices on its Internet site and to consumers who access the list of advertised prices. Gatekeeper profits are maximized in an equilibrium where (a) the product market exhibits price dispersion; (b) access fees are sufficiently low that all consumers subscribe; (c) advertising fees exceed socially optimal levels, thus inducing partial firm participation; and (d) advertised prices are below unadvertised prices. Introducing the market for information has ambiguous social welfare effects.
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article
Authors
Baye, Michael R. (IN U)
Morgan, John (Princeton U)
Morgan, John (Princeton U)
JEL Classifications
L11: Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
L86: Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
D83: Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief
L86: Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
D83: Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief
