Persuaded Search

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Mekonnen, Teddy; Murra-Anton, Zeky; Pakzad-Hurson, Bobak
• 署名单位: Brown University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/736765
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 3167-3207
• 关键词: information; price; disclosure; DESIGN

摘要

We consider sequential search by an agent who cannot observe the quality of goods but can acquire information from a profit-maximizing principal with limited commitment power. The principal can charge higher prices for more informative signals, but high future prices discourage continued search, thereby reducing the principal's profits. A unique stationary equilibrium outcome exists: the principal (i) sells the agent only partial information, (ii) induces the socially efficient stopping rule, and (iii) extracts the full surplus. However, introducing an additional, free source of information can lead to inefficiency in equilibrium.