Optimal certification policy, entry, and investment in the presence of public signals

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Choi, Jay Pil; Mukherjee, Arijit
• 署名单位: Michigan State University; Yonsei University
• 刊物名称: RAND JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0741-6261
• DOI: 10.1111/1756-2171.12347
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 989-1013
• 关键词: information; DESIGN; disclosure; middlemen; price

摘要

We explore the optimal disclosure policy of a certification intermediary where (i) the seller decides on entry and investment in product quality, and (ii) the buyers observe an additional public signal on quality. The optimal policy maximizes rent extraction from the seller by trading off incentives for entry and investment. We identify conditions under which full, partial or no disclosure can be optimal. The intermediary's report becomes noisier as the public signal gets more precise, but if the public signal is sufficiently precise, the intermediary resorts to full disclosure. However, the social welfare may reduce when the public signal becomes more informative.