Multitasking, complementarities, and information disclosure: Theory and evidence from the U.K.

72 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2023 Last revised: 7 Sep 2023

See all articles by Dakshina G. De Silva

Dakshina G. De Silva

Lancaster University - Department of Economics

David Rietzke

Lancaster University - Department of Economics

Anita R. Schiller

Department of Economics - Lancaster University Management School

Hisayuki Yoshimoto

University of Glasgow, Business School, Economics

Date Written: August 24, 2023

Abstract

We analyze the role of cost complementarities in driving the overall impact of a recent hygiene-rating disclosure policy in the U.K. We develop a simple theoretical multitasking model, which serves as a platform for our empirical analysis. We conduct a counterfactual analysis, which reveals the extent to which complementarities drive overall hygiene ratings. Further, we conduct a policy experiment, which sheds light on the optimal design of hygiene-rating information disclosure policies. We also show the differential impact of the policy on different types of establishments.

Keywords: Multitasking, Information Disclosure, Complementarities, Product Quality, Food Hygiene

JEL Classification: D73, I18, K23, L51

Suggested Citation

De Silva, Dakshina G. and Rietzke, David and Schiller, Anita R. and Yoshimoto, Hisayuki, Multitasking, complementarities, and information disclosure: Theory and evidence from the U.K. (August 24, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4375918 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4375918

Dakshina G. De Silva (Contact Author)

Lancaster University - Department of Economics ( email )

David Rietzke

Lancaster University - Department of Economics ( email )

Anita R. Schiller

Department of Economics - Lancaster University Management School ( email )

Lancaster, LA1 4YX
United Kingdom

Hisayuki Yoshimoto

University of Glasgow, Business School, Economics ( email )

Glasgow
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://hisayukiyoshimoto.org/

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