Research and Publications
Journal Articles
Testing Models of Consumer Search Using Data on Web Browsing and Purchasing Behavior
2012, forthcoming American Economic Review
Babur De los Santos, Ali Hortaçsu, Matthijs R. Wildenbeest
Abstract
Using a large data set on web browsing and purchasing behavior we test to what extent consumers are searching in accordance to various classical search models. We find that the benchmark model of sequential search with a known distributions of prices can be rejected based on the recall patterns we observe in the data. Moreover, we show that even if consumers are initially unaware of the price distribution and have to learn the price distribution, observed search behavior for given consumers over time is more consistent with non-sequential search than sequential search with earning. Our findings suggest non-sequential search provides a more accurate description of observed consumer search behavior. We then utilize the non-sequential search model to estimate the price elasticities and markups of online book retailers.
Citation
Wildenbeest, Matthijs, Babur De los Santos, and Ali Hortacsu (2012), "Testing Models of Consumer Search Using Data on Web Browsing and Purchasing Behavior." forthcoming, American Economic Review.
Keywords
consumer search, electronic commerce, consumer behavior
