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Demand cycles and heterogeneous conformity preferences

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  • Baumann, Leonie
  • Olszewski, Wojciech

Abstract

We explore the dynamics of demand for n designs of a good when agents have preferences for (anti-)conformity. Agents differ in their social status and each agent seeks to imitate those of higher status and to distinguish herself from those of lower status, relative to her own status. In each period, every agent chooses a design given each agent's demand in the previous period. We show that demand dynamics resemble fashion cycles: The demand for designs is repetitively bell-shaped over time, and, when positively demanded, a design trickles from high- to low-status individuals. At least for n=3, the demand dynamics converge to a unique limit cycle. We obtain a similar (though weaker) convergence result for n=4, and simulations suggest that the result holds for n=4 and 5.

Suggested Citation

  • Baumann, Leonie & Olszewski, Wojciech, 2021. "Demand cycles and heterogeneous conformity preferences," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:194:y:2021:i:c:s0022053121000697
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2021.105252
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fashion cycle; Demand cycle; Preference for conformity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E71 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on the Macro Economy
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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