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Adverse selection in the used-car market: evidence from purchase and repair patterns in the Consumer Expenditure Survey

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  • Jonathan R. Peterson
  • Henry S. Schneider

Abstract

type="main"> We analyze adverse selection in the used-car market using a new approach that considers a car as an assemblage of parts, some with symmetric information and others with asymmetric information. Using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey and Consumer Reports, we examine turnover and repair patterns. We find evidence of adverse selection due to the conditions of the transmission, engine, and, during colder months, air-conditioning; and sorting due to the conditions of the vehicle body and, during warmer months, air-conditioning. Our quantification exercises indicate that adverse selection may have a meaningful effect on trade volume and quality in the secondhand market.

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  • Jonathan R. Peterson & Henry S. Schneider, 2014. "Adverse selection in the used-car market: evidence from purchase and repair patterns in the Consumer Expenditure Survey," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 45(1), pages 140-154, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:randje:v:45:y:2014:i:1:p:140-154
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    Cited by:

    1. Strittmatter, Anthony & Lechner, Michael, 2020. "Sorting in the used-car market after the Volkswagen emission scandal," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    2. Gary Biglaiser & Fei Li & Charles Murry & Yiyi Zhou, 2020. "Intermediaries and product quality in used car markets," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 51(3), pages 905-933, September.
    3. Anne‐Célia Disdier & Carl Gaigné & Cristina Herghelegiu, 2023. "Do standards improve the quality of traded products?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(4), pages 1238-1290, November.
    4. Ingrid Bauer & Liudmila Zavolokina & Gerhard Schwabe, 2020. "Is there a market for trusted car data?," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(2), pages 211-225, June.
    5. Benedikt Notheisen & Jacob Benjamin Cholewa & Arun Prasad Shanmugam, 2017. "Trading Real-World Assets on Blockchain," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 59(6), pages 425-440, December.
    6. Jonathan R. Peterson & Henry S. Schneider, 2017. "Beautiful Lemons: Adverse Selection in Durable-Goods Markets with Sorting," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(9), pages 3111-3127, September.
    7. Inge van den Bijgaart & Davide Cerruti, 2024. "The Effect of Information on Market Activity: Evidence from Vehicle Recalls," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(1), pages 230-245, January.
    8. Justin P. Johnson & Henry S. Schneider & Michael Waldman, 2014. "The Role and Growth of New-Car Leasing: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 57(3), pages 665-698.
    9. Weichselbaumer, Michael, 2023. "Unobserved heterogeneity and adjustment to behavioral bias: The case of used cars," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    10. Michael T. Rauh & Giulio Seccia, 2014. "Honesty and Trade," Working Papers 2014-06, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.

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