Structural Estimation of the Effect of Out-of-Stocks

Andrés Musalem (), Marcelo Olivares (), Eric T. Bradlow (), Christian Terwiesch () and Daniel Corsten ()
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Andrés Musalem: Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
Marcelo Olivares: Decision, Risk and Operations Division, Columbia Business School, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
Eric T. Bradlow: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Christian Terwiesch: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Daniel Corsten: Operations and Technology Management, IE Business School, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Management Science, 2010, vol. 56, issue 7, 1180-1197

Abstract: We develop a structural demand model that endogenously captures the effect of out-of-stocks on customer choice by simulating a time-varying set of available alternatives. Our estimation method uses store-level data on sales and partial information on product availability. Our model allows for flexible substitution patterns, which are based on utility maximization principles and can accommodate categorical and continuous product characteristics. The methodology can be applied to data from multiple markets and in categories with a relatively large number of alternatives, slow-moving products, and frequent out-of-stocks (unlike many existing approaches). In addition, we illustrate how the model can be used to assist the decisions of a store manager in two ways. First, we show how to quantify the lost sales induced by out-of-stock products. Second, we provide insights on the financial consequences of out-of-stocks and suggest price promotion policies that can be used to help mitigate their negative economic impact, which run counter to simple commonly used heuristics.

Keywords: aggregate demand estimation; Bayesian methods; choice models; data augmentation; inventory management; out-of-stocks; retailing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (53)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:56:y:2010:i:7:p:1180-1197

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