Consumer uncertainty and price discrimination through online coupons: An empirical study of restaurants in Shanghai

(Catherine) Zhang, Jie, Scott Savage () and Yongmin Chen

Information Economics and Policy, 2015, vol. 33, issue C, 43-55

Abstract: We use data from restaurants in Shanghai, China to conduct a new empirical analysis of prices and coupons. Our results show a positive relationship between prices and online coupons. Moreover, the price premium from couponing is higher for restaurants about which consumer values appear to be more uncertain. When consumer uncertainty is high, restaurants that offer coupons have an average price that is about 60 percent higher than similar restaurants that do not issue coupons. When uncertainty is low, restaurants that offer coupons have an average price that is about 10 percent higher. These findings are consistent with online couponing in the restaurant industry being used for price discrimination and as a promotional device in the presence of higher uncertainty in consumer valuations.

Keywords: Consumer uncertainty; Coupons; Price discrimination; Price promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L15 L66 L86 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Working Paper: Consumer uncertainty and price discrimination through online coupons: an empirical study of restaurants in Shanghai (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:33:y:2015:i:c:p:43-55

DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2015.10.002

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