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A Dynamic Model of Price Signaling, Consumer Learning, and Price Adjustment

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Abstract

We examine a model of consumer learning and price signaling where price and quality are optimally chosen by a monopolist. We find that price signaling causes the firm to raise prices, lower quality, and dampen the degree to which it passes on cost shocks to price. We identify two mechanisms through which signaling affects pass-through and find that signaling can lead to asymmetric pass-through.

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  • Matthew Osborne & Adam Hale Shapiro, 2014. "A Dynamic Model of Price Signaling, Consumer Learning, and Price Adjustment," Working Paper Series 2014-27, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedfwp:2014-27
    DOI: 10.24148/wp2014-27
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