Where consumers have imperfect information about specific firms' prices and lack information about the market, firms have informational market power. In general, improving the consumer's information about each firm's price will not necessarily lower average market price. We show, however, that...

Choice data about recreational activities has usually been available for decisions made at a single point in time. Even when data has been collected over a long interval, analysis has generally ignored the impact of seasonality on the relative value of different attributes, treating all choices...

We introduce three types of consumer recognition: identity recognition, asymmetric preference recognition, and symmetric preference recognition. We characterize price equilibria and compare profits, consumer surplus, and total welfare. Asymmetric preference recognition enhances profits compared...

Engineering models generally find that most consumers are unwilling to adopt energy efficient appliances, even though the financial returns are positive. It is commonly thought that this is either due to market imperfections such as an incomplete credit market, very high intertemporal consumer...

We investigate how costly acquisition and exchange of customer-specific information affects industry profit and consumer welfare. Consumers differ in their preferences for competing brands and in their switching costs between brands. Brand-producing firms use their acquired knowledge of...

Nationwide surveys show that consumers are increasingly embracing technology to make payments and manage their personal finances. However, only about one in two consumers could be considered a heavy user of electronic banking. This article examines changes over time in consumers’ access to,...