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Durable Goods Price Cycles: Theory And Evidence From The Textbook Market

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  • ERIC W. BOND
  • TOSHIAKI IIZUKA

Abstract

type="main" xml:lang="en"> We study the pricing policy of a monopolist selling a durable good with the features of a textbook. We assume buyers differ in their valuation of the good and propensity to resell, and identify the possibility of a positive relationship between the quantity of used goods and the price of a new good, and also a higher price for new goods in the last period before a new edition is introduced. Our empirical analysis supports this model: textbook prices increase as the share of used textbooks increases and the end of the current edition approaches. (JEL D420, L120)

Suggested Citation

  • Eric W. Bond & Toshiaki Iizuka, 2014. "Durable Goods Price Cycles: Theory And Evidence From The Textbook Market," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(2), pages 518-538, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:52:y:2014:i:2:p:518-538
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ecin.12055
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Toshiaki Iizuka, 2007. "An Empirical Analysis of Planned Obsolescence," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(1), pages 191-226, March.
    2. Takanori Adachi & Takeshi Ebina, 2014. "Complementing Cournot’s analysis of complements: unidirectional complementarity and mergers," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 111(3), pages 239-261, April.
    3. Kanis Saengchote & Voraprapa Nakavachara, 2018. "Are consumers forward looking? Evidence from used iPhones," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(13), pages 905-909, July.

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