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Intermediation as Rent Extraction

Author

Listed:
  • Maryam Farboodi
  • Gregor Jarosch
  • Guido Menzio

Abstract

We propose a theory of intermediation as rent extraction, and explore its implications for the extent of intermediation, welfare and policy. A frictional asset market is populated by agents who are heterogeneous with respect to their bargaining skills, as some can commit to take-it-or-leave-it offers and others cannot. In equilibrium, agents with commitment power act as intermediaries and those without act as final users. Agents with commitment trade on behalf of agents without commitment to extract more rents from third parties. If agents can invest in a commitment technology, there are multiple equilibria differing in the fraction of intermediaries. Equilibria with more intermediaries have lower welfare and any equilibrium with intermediation is inefficient. Intermediation grows as trading frictions become small and during times when interest rates are low. A simple transaction tax can restore efficiency by eliminating any scope for bargaining.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Farboodi & Gregor Jarosch & Guido Menzio, 2017. "Intermediation as Rent Extraction," NBER Working Papers 24171, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24171
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    Cited by:

    1. Javier Donna & Andre Trindade & Pedro Pereira & Tiago Pires, 2018. "Measuring the Welfare of Intermediation in Vertical Markets," 2018 Meeting Papers 984, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    2. Jérôme Dugast & Semih Uslu & Pierre-Olivier Weil, 2018. "Platform Trading with an OTC Market Fringe," Post-Print hal-02104107, HAL.
    3. Javier Donna & Andre Trindade & Pedro Pereira & Tiago Pires, 2018. "Measuring the Welfare of Intermediation in Vertical Markets," 2018 Meeting Papers 984, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Maryam Farboodi & Gregor Jarosch & Robert Shimer, 2023. "The Emergence of Market Structure," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(1), pages 261-292.
    5. Julien Hugonnier & Benjamin Lester & Pierre-Olivier Weill, 2020. "Frictional Intermediation in Over-the-Counter Markets," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(3), pages 1432-1469.
    6. Gabrovski, Miroslav & Kospentaris, Ioannis, 2021. "Intermediation in over-the-counter markets with price transparency," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Zachary Bethune & Bruno Sultanum & Nicholas Trachter, 2019. "Asset Issuance in Over-the-Counter Markets," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 33, pages 4-29, July.
    8. Zachary Bethune & Bruno Sultanum & Nicholas Trachter, 2022. "An Information-based Theory of Financial Intermediation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(5), pages 2381-2444.
    9. Javier D. Donna & Pedro Pereira & Tiago Pires & André Trindade, 2022. "Measuring the Welfare of Intermediaries," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 8083-8115, November.
    10. Cohen, Assa & Kargar, Mahyar & Lester, Benjamin & Weill, Pierre-Olivier, 2024. "Inventory, market making, and liquidity in OTC markets," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    11. Chao Hu & Damian C. Adams & Huachao Feng & Jing Cheng, 2023. "Refining the Rent Dissipation Model in Land Use: Application to Agricultural Insurance in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Semyon Malamud & Andreas Schrimpf, 2016. "Intermediation Markups and Monetary Policy Passthrough," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 16-75, Swiss Finance Institute.
    13. Donna, Javier D. & Pereira, Pedro & Pires, Tiago & Trindade, Andre, 2018. "Measuring the Welfare of Intermediaries in Vertical Markets," MPRA Paper 90465, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Jérôme Dugast & Semih Üslü & Pierre-Olivier Weill, 2022. "A Theory of Participation in OTC and Centralized Markets," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(6), pages 3223-3266.
    15. Lester, Benjamin & Weill, Pierre-Olivier & Hugonnier, Julien, 2022. "Heterogeneity in decentralized asset markets," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 17(3), July.
    16. Choi, Michael & Rocheteau, Guillaume, 2024. "Foundations of market power in monetary economies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    17. Marco Macchiavelli & Xing (Alex) Zhou, 2022. "Funding Liquidity and Market Liquidity: The Broker-Dealer Perspective," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3379-3398, May.
    18. Farboodi, Maryam & Jarosch, Gregor & Menzio, Guido & Wiriadinata, Ursula, 2025. "Intermediation as rent extraction," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General

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