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Memory and Reference Prices: An Application to Rental Choice

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  • Pedro Bordalo
  • Nicola Gennaioli
  • Andrei Shleifer

Abstract

Loewenstein and Simonsohn (2006) found that movers across US cities anchor their rental choices to rents in the city of origin, but subsequently converge to comparable local households. We explain this finding using the authors' (2019) model of memory and attention. Rents in the destination city cue recall of "normal" rents in the city of origin, making the former surprisingly high or low, causing movers to under- or overspend, respectively. Over time, experience with new city rents allows the memory database to adapt, and the effect fades away. The model yields two new predictions, for which we find supportive evidence.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Bordalo & Nicola Gennaioli & Andrei Shleifer, 2019. "Memory and Reference Prices: An Application to Rental Choice," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 572-576, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:109:y:2019:p:572-76
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20191052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Uri Simonsohn & George Loewenstein, 2006. "Mistake #37: The Effect of Previously Encountered Prices on Current Housing Demand," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 116(508), pages 175-199, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonas Radbruch & Amelie Schiprowski, 2020. "Interview Sequences and the Formation of Subjective Assessments," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 045, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    2. Pedro Bordalo & Nicola Gennaioli & Rafael La Porta & Matthew O'Brien & Andrei Shleifer, 2023. "Long Term Expectations and Aggregate Fluctuations," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2023, volume 38, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Xie, Erhao, 2021. "Empirical properties and identification of adaptive learning models in behavioral game theory," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 798-821.
    4. Giacoletti, Marco & Parsons, Christopher A., 2022. "Peak-Bust rental spreads," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 504-526.
    5. Pierpaolo Battigalli & Nicolò Generoso, 2021. "Information Flows and Memory in Games," Working Papers 678, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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