Selling Cookies

Dirk Bergemann and Alessandro Bonatti

American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 2015, vol. 7, issue 3, 259-94

Abstract: We propose a model of data provision and data pricing. A single data provider controls a large database that contains information about the match value between individual consumers and individual firms (advertisers). Advertisers seek to tailor their spending to the individual match value. The data provider prices queries about individual consumers' characteristics (cookies). We determine the equilibrium data acquisition and pricing policies. Advertisers choose positive and/or negative targeting policies. The optimal query price influences the composition of the targeted set. The price of data decreases with the reach of the database and increases with the fragmentation of data sales. (JEL C78, D83, L11, L82, M37)

JEL-codes: C78 D83 L11 L82 M37 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
Note: DOI: 10.1257/mic.20140155
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (49)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Selling Cookies (2014)
Working Paper: Selling Cookies (2014)
Working Paper: Selling Cookies (2013)
Working Paper: Selling Cookies (2013)
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