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Consumers' Imperfect Information and Price Rigidities

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  • Jean-Paul L'Huillier

    (Einaudi Institute for Economics and Fina)

Abstract

This paper develops a model of price rigidities and information diffusion in decentralized markets with private information. First, I provide a strategic microfoundation for price rigidities, by showing that firms are better off delaying the adjustment of prices when they face a high number of uninformed consumers. Second, in an environment where consumers learn from firms' prices, the diffusion of information follows a Bernoulli differential equation. Therefore, learning follows nonlinear dynamics. Third, the price rigidity produces an informational externality that affects welfare. Fourth, the dynamics of output and inflation are hump-shaped due to consumer learning.

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  • Jean-Paul L'Huillier, 2013. "Consumers' Imperfect Information and Price Rigidities," 2013 Meeting Papers 65, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed013:65
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    References listed on IDEAS

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