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Manipulation of Cursed Beliefs in Online Reviews

Author

Listed:
  • Ludmila Matyskova
  • Jan Sipek

Abstract

Consumer reviews may have perverse effects, including delays of adoption in new products of unknown quality when consumers are boundedly rational. When consumers fail to take into account that past reviewers self-select to purchases, a monopolist may manipulate the posterior beliefs of consumers who observe the reviews, because the product price determines the self-selection bias. The monopolist will charge a relatively high price because the positive selection of the early adopters increases the quality reported in the reviews.

Suggested Citation

  • Ludmila Matyskova & Jan Sipek, 2017. "Manipulation of Cursed Beliefs in Online Reviews," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp586, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    • Handle: RePEc:cer:papers:wp586
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    File URL: http://www.cerge-ei.cz/pdf/wp/Wp586.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality

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