Pricing in Matching Markets
66 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2010
There are 2 versions of this paper
Pricing in Matching Markets
Date Written: January 27, 2010
Abstract
Different markets are cleared by different types of prices - a universal price for all buyers and sellers in some markets, seller-specific prices that are uniform across buyers in others, and personalized prices tailored to both the buyer and the seller in yet others. We introduce the notion of premuneration values - the values in the absence of any muneration (payments) - created by the buyer-seller match. We characterize the premuneration values under which uniform-price and personalized-price equilibria agree. In this case, we have efficient allocations, including pre-match investment decisions, without the costs of personalized pricing. We then examine the inefficiencies that arise when the premuneration values preclude the agreement of uniform-price and personalized-price equilibria. We view premuneration values as an important consideration in market design.
Keywords: Directed Search, Matching, Premuneration Value, Prematch Investments, Search
JEL Classification: C78, D40, D41, D50, D83
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation