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Quality Adjustment at Scale: Hedonic vs. Exact Demand-Based Price Indices

Author

Listed:
  • Gabriel Ehrlich
  • John Haltiwanger
  • Ron Jarmin
  • David Johnson
  • Ed Olivares
  • Luke Pardue
  • Matthew D. Shapiro
  • Laura Yi Zhao

Abstract

This paper explores alternative methods for adjusting price indices for quality change at scale. These methods can be applied to large-scale item-level transactions data that in cludes information on prices, quantities, and item attributes. The hedonic methods can take into account the changing valuations of both observable and unobservable charac teristics in the presence of product turnover. The paper also considers demand-based approaches that take into account changing product quality from product turnover and changing appeal of continuing products. The paper provides evidence of substantial quality-adjustment in prices for a wide range of goods, including both high-tech consumer products and food products.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Ehrlich & John Haltiwanger & Ron Jarmin & David Johnson & Ed Olivares & Luke Pardue & Matthew D. Shapiro & Laura Yi Zhao, 2023. "Quality Adjustment at Scale: Hedonic vs. Exact Demand-Based Price Indices," Working Papers 23-26, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:23-26
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. C. Lanier Benkard & Patrick Bajari, 2005. "Hedonic Price Indexes With Unobserved Product Characteristics, and Application to Personal Computers," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 23, pages 61-75, January.
    4. Robert C. Feenstra & Marshall B. Reinsdorf, 2007. "Should Exact Index Numbers Have Standard Errors? Theory and Application to Asian Growth," NBER Chapters, in: Hard-to-Measure Goods and Services: Essays in Honor of Zvi Griliches, pages 483-513, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Ivancic, Lorraine & Erwin Diewert, W. & Fox, Kevin J., 2011. "Scanner data, time aggregation and the construction of price indexes," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 161(1), pages 24-35, March.
    6. Stephen J Redding & David E Weinstein, 2020. "Measuring Aggregate Price Indices with Taste Shocks: Theory and Evidence for CES Preferences," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(1), pages 503-560.
    7. Ana Aizcorbe & David M. Byrne & Daniel E. Sichel, 2019. "Getting Smart About Phones: New Price Indexes and the Allocation of Spending Between Devices and Services Plans in Personal Consumption Expenditures," NBER Working Papers 25645, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    11. Diewert, Erwin, 2019. "Quality Adjustment and Hedonics: A Unified Approach," Microeconomics.ca working papers erwin_diewert-2019-2, Vancouver School of Economics, revised 14 Mar 2019.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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