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On the “uniform pricing puzzle” in recorded music

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  • Richardson, Martin
  • Stähler, Frank

Abstract

This paper proposes a possible explanation for uniform pricing in the recorded music industry, based on a pooling equilibrium across different quality types. We show that an ex ante ability to invest in the probability of success – which we identify with record companies’ artists and repertoire (A&R) expenditures – makes such a pooling equilibrium more likely.

Suggested Citation

  • Richardson, Martin & Stähler, Frank, 2016. "On the “uniform pricing puzzle” in recorded music," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:34:y:2016:i:c:p:58-66
    DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2015.12.001
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    1. Richardson, Martin & Stähler, Frank, 2016. "On the “uniform pricing puzzle” in recorded music," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-66.
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    Cited by:

    1. Richardson, Martin & Stähler, Frank, 2016. "On the “uniform pricing puzzle” in recorded music," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 58-66.
    2. Pascal Courty & Javad Nasiry, 2018. "Loss aversion and the uniform pricing puzzle for media and entertainment products," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 66(1), pages 105-140, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Recorded music; Uniform prices;

    JEL classification:

    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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