Identification in Search Models with Social Information

Niccolò Lomys and Emanuele Tarantino

No 17740, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We theoretically study how social information affects agents’ search behavior and the resulting observable outcomes that identify search models. We generalize canonical empirical search models by allowing a share of agents in the population to observe some peers’ choices. Social information changes optimal search. First, we show that neglecting social information leads to non-identification and inconsistent estimation of search cost distributions under various standard datasets. Whether search costs are under or overestimated depends on the dataset. Second, we propose several remedies—such as data requirements, offline estimation techniques, exogenous variations, and partial identification approaches—that restore identification and consistent estimation.

Keywords: Search and Learning; Social Information; Identification; Networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C1 C5 C8 D1 D6 D8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-12
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Working Paper: Identification in Search Models with Social Information (2023)
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