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Seller-Buyer Ethnic Matches: The Case Of Car Transactions At Two North American Auto Dealerships

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  • OWAN, HIDEO
  • 都留, 康
  • TSURU, TSUYOSHI
  • UEHARA, KATSUHITO

Abstract

Using personnel and transaction data obtained from two Canadian auto dealerships, we examine whether ethnic matches between salespersons and customers affectsales prices and the number of units sold by individual salespersons. Regarding prices, we detect neither premium price setting nor discounting among seller-buyer matches of the same ethnic groups relative to those of different ethnic groups. Regarding the number of units sold by individual salespersons, however, we find that, relative to customer demographics, salespersons sell larger quantities to customers of the same ethnic group. Moreover, we find that high-performing salespersons conduct more transactions with customers of the same ethnic group than low-performers, especially in months when business conditions are unfavorable.

Suggested Citation

  • Owan, Hideo & 都留, 康 & Tsuru, Tsuyoshi & Uehara, Katsuhito, 2012. "Seller-Buyer Ethnic Matches: The Case Of Car Transactions At Two North American Auto Dealerships," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 53(2), pages 217-236, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitjec:v:53:y:2012:i:2:p:217-236
    DOI: 10.15057/25384
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathryn L. Shaw, 2019. "Bosses matter: The effects of managers on workers’ performance," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 456-456, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ethnicity; price discrimination; seller-buyer matches; car transaction; social network;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods

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