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Unwillingness to pay for privacy: A field experiment

Author

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  • Beresford, Alastair R.
  • Kübler, Dorothea
  • Preibusch, Sören

Abstract

We measure willingness to pay for privacy in a field experiment. Participants bought at most one DVD from one of two competing online stores. One store consistently required more sensitive personal data than the other, but otherwise the stores were identical. In one treatment, DVDs were one Euro cheaper at the store requesting more personal information, and almost all buyers chose the cheaper store. Surprisingly, in the second treatment when prices were identical, participants bought from both shops equally often.

Suggested Citation

  • Beresford, Alastair R. & Kübler, Dorothea & Preibusch, Sören, 2012. "Unwillingness to pay for privacy: A field experiment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 25-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:117:y:2012:i:1:p:25-27
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2012.04.077
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    References listed on IDEAS

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      • Posner, Richard A., 1980. "The Economics of Privacy," Working Papers 16, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Privacy; Willingness to pay; Field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis

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