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Marketmaking Middlemen

Author

Listed:
  • Gautier, Pieter A.

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Hu, Bo

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Watanabe, Makoto

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Abstract

This paper develops a model in which market structure is determined endogenously by the choice of intermediation mode. We consider two representative business modes of intermediation that are widely used in real-life markets: one is a middleman mode where an intermediary holds inventories which he stocks from sellers for the purpose of reselling to buyers; the other is a market-making mode where an intermediary offers a platform for buyers and sellers to trade with each other. In our model, buyers and sellers can simultaneously search in an outside market and use the intermediation service. We show that a marketmaking middleman, who adopts the mixture of these two intermediation modes, can emerge in a directed search equilibrium.

Suggested Citation

  • Gautier, Pieter A. & Hu, Bo & Watanabe, Makoto, 2016. "Marketmaking Middlemen," IZA Discussion Papers 10152, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10152
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Marketmaking Middlemen
      by Christian Zimmermann in NEP-DGE blog on 2016-08-30 20:15:33

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    middlemen; marketmakers; platform; directed search;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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