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Learning and Price Discovery in a Search Market

Author

Listed:
  • Stephan Lauermann
  • Wolfram Merzyn
  • Gábor Virág

Abstract

We introduce learning into an otherwise standard two-sided search-and-bargaining market. There is uncertainty about the price distribution due to uncertainty about an underlying exogenous state of relative demand: in the high state, buyers are on the long side; otherwise, they are on the short side. In equilibrium, prices are on average higher in the high state. Individual agents learn about the distribution while searching. Agents typically start out by experimenting with a tough bargaining position—buyers may initially insist on a low price and sellers on a high price. After successive failures to trade, agents become increasingly pessimistic about the market conditions and soften their bargaining stance. When frictions are small, equilibrium transaction prices are approximately market clearing, despite aggregate demand being unknown. Thus, the search-and-bargaining procedure enables price discovery in a decentralized market.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephan Lauermann & Wolfram Merzyn & Gábor Virág, 2018. "Learning and Price Discovery in a Search Market," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 85(2), pages 1159-1192.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:85:y:2018:i:2:p:1159-1192.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/restud/rdx029
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacob D Leshno & Bary S R Pradelski, 2021. "The importance of memory for price discovery in decentralized markets," Post-Print hal-03100097, HAL.
    2. Eeva Mauring, 2020. "Informational Cycles in Search Markets," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 170-192, November.
    3. Gamp, Tobias & Krähmer, Daniel, 2022. "Biased Beliefs in Search Markets," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 365, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    4. Eeva Mauring, 2020. "Informational Cycles in Search Markets," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 170-192, November.
    5. Ryan Chahrour & Gaetano Gaballo, 2021. "Learning from House Prices: Amplification and Business Fluctuations [House Price Booms and the Current Account]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(4), pages 1720-1759.
    6. Weill, Pierre-Olivier, 2020. "The search theory of OTC markets," CEPR Discussion Papers 14847, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Shneyerov, Artyom & Wong, Adam C.L., 2020. "Price discovery in a matching and bargaining market with aggregate uncertainty," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 183-206.
    8. Andras Niedermayer & Artyom Shneyerov, 2014. "For‐Profit Search Platforms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 55(3), pages 765-789, August.
    9. Niedermayer, Andras & Shneyerov, Artyom, 2013. "For-Profit Search Platforms," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 436, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
    10. Leshno, Jacob D. & Pradelski, Bary S.R., 2021. "The importance of memory for price discovery in decentralized markets," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 62-78.
    11. Chahrour, Ryan & Gaballo, Gaetano, 2017. "Learning from prices: amplication and business fluctuations," Working Paper Series 2053, European Central Bank.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information revelation; bilateral trading; equilibrium search theory; learning and experimentation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • D5 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty

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