Search and categorization

Chaim Fershtman, Arthur Fishman and Jidong Zhou ()

International Journal of Industrial Organization, 2018, vol. 57, issue C, 225-254

Abstract: The internet has not only reduced consumer search costs, but has also enabled more efficient and sophisticated search procedures. For example, online consumers can streamline their search process if appropriately defined categories of products and services are available. This paper proposes a search model with product categories where consumers choose which categories to search and firms respond to such more targeted search by strategically choosing the categories in which to list their products. The analysis focuses on the relationship between category architecture and the type of information which can be credibly disclosed by firms’ category choices to consumers.

Keywords: Consumer search; Product differentiation; Categorization; Information revelation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D43 D83 L15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Search and Categorization (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:indorg:v:57:y:2018:i:c:p:225-254

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2017.10.002

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