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Competition for imperfect consumers

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  • Vickers, John

Abstract

This lecture provides a selective discussion of some issues in the economics of competition for imperfect consumers. Limited consumer awareness – about what deals are on offer, or about the consequences of purchasing decisions – is a central feature of many markets. Consumer imperfection can give rise to market power, but can also co-exist with strong rivalry between firms, and then is more for ‘consumer policy’ than competition policy. Two recent court cases illustrate some of the issues involved. The lecture then reviews a line of theoretical work on competition for imperfect consumers. The analysis highlights some policy tradeoffs, and a key theme is how patterns of consumer awareness matter for patterns of competition among firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Vickers, John, 2021. "Competition for imperfect consumers," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:79:y:2021:i:c:s0167718721000321
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2021.102739
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Machová Renáta & Korcsmáros Enikő & Marča Roland & Esseová Monika, 2022. "An International Analysis of Consumers’ Consciousness During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Slovakia and Hungary," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 22(1), pages 130-151, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Price dispersion; Price discrimination; Consumer search; Consideration sets; Consumer policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D18 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Protection
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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