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The Effects of Selling Complements and Substitutes on Consumer Willingness to Pay: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment

Author

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  • Matthew C. Rousu
  • Robert H. Beach
  • Jay R. Corrigan

Abstract

Basic economic theory predicts that a consumer's willingness to pay for a good is affected by the availability of complements and substitutes. In an auction setting, this theory implies that the presence of complements would increase bid prices for a good, while the presence of substitutes would decrease bid prices for a good. We designed an experiment that allows the calculation of inverse elasticities, the inverse‐demand equivalent of conventional price elasticities. Our results show that the availability of complements and substitutes affects bids in the expected directions. This finding has important implications for researchers who design experimental auctions. Selon la théorie économique de base, la volonté de payer d'un consommateur pour obtenir un bien est influencée par la disponibilité de compléments et de substituts. Dans un scénario de vente aux enchères, cette théorie implique que la présence de compléments ferait augmenter le prix offert pour un bien, tandis que la présence de substituts ferait diminuer le prix offert. Nous avons conçu une expérience qui a permis de calculer les élasticités inverses, l'équivalent de la demande inverse des élasticités‐prix classiques. Nos résultats ont montré que la disponibilité de compléments et de substituts influence les offres d'achat dans les directions prévues. Cette observation a d'importantes répercussions pour les chercheurs qui conçoivent des ventes aux enchères expérimentales.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew C. Rousu & Robert H. Beach & Jay R. Corrigan, 2008. "The Effects of Selling Complements and Substitutes on Consumer Willingness to Pay: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 56(2), pages 179-194, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:56:y:2008:i:2:p:179-194
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7976.2008.00124.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. McFadden, Jonathan R. & Huffman, Wallace E., 2017. "Consumer valuation of information about food safety achieved using biotechnology: Evidence from new potato products," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 82-96.
    2. Levan Elbakidze & Rodolfo M. Nayga Jr. & Hao Li & Chris McIntosh, 2014. "Value elicitation for multiple quantities of a quasi-public good using open ended choice experiments and uniform price auctions," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 45(2), pages 253-265, March.
    3. Azucena GRACIA & Tiziana DE-MAGISTRIS, 2015. "The role of participants' competitiveness in consumers' valuation for food products using experimental auctions," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 61(10), pages 484-491.

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