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Behavior-Based Price Discrimination with Non-Uniform Distribution of Consumer Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa-Branca Esteves

    (Department of Economics/NIPE, University of Minho)

  • Qihong Liu

    (Department of Economics, University of Oklahoma)

  • Jie Shuai

    (Wenlan School of Business, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law)

Abstract

Firms commonly price discriminate across consumers based on purchase history, a practice known as behavior-based price discrimination (BBPD). Existing studies usually assume that consumer preferences follow uniform distribution, and find that BBPD benefits consumers at the cost of firms, prisoners’ dilemma. In this paper, we consider a class of consumer preferences distribution and show that new profit and welfare results arise. In particular, when consumer preferences are sufficiently clustered at the center of the market (e.g. triangular distribution), BBPD boosts industry profits at the expense of consumers. This is opposite to the standard prisoners’ dilemma results under uniform distribution. On the other hand, when consumer preferences are not clustered at the center of the market, the usual findings prevail. Our results highlight the important role of the shape of preferences and provide useful implications for relevant players including managers, regulators and consumer advocates.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa-Branca Esteves & Qihong Liu & Jie Shuai, 2021. "Behavior-Based Price Discrimination with Non-Uniform Distribution of Consumer Preferences," NIPE Working Papers 04/2021, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    • Handle: RePEc:nip:nipewp:4/2021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lu, Wenbo & Shuai, Jie, 2024. "Endogenous price discrimination with asymmetric firms," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Li, Jianpei & Zhang, Wanzhu, 2022. "Behavior-based price discrimination and signaling of product quality," MPRA Paper 111572, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Li, Jianpei & Zhang, Wanzhu, 2022. "Behavior-based pricing and signaling of product quality," MPRA Paper 120263, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 03 Jan 2023.
    4. Okuyama, Suzuka, 2024. "Behavior-based price discrimination and elastic demand," MPRA Paper 120949, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Umezawa, Masashi, 2022. "Behavior-based price discrimination in a horizontally and vertically differentiated duopoly with switching costs," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    6. Dubus, Antoine, 2024. "Behavior-based algorithmic pricing," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing

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