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Information technology and product variety in the city: The case of food trucks

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  • Anenberg, Elliot
  • Kung, Edward

Abstract

Using the food truck industry as the setting, we provide direct evidence for how information technology can complement consumption variety in cities by reducing spatial information frictions associated with locally produced goods. We document the following facts: (1) food trucks use technology to overcome a spatial information friction; (2) proliferation of technology is related to growth in food trucks; (3) food trucks use their mobility to respond to consumer taste-for-variety; and (4) growth in food trucks is positively correlated with growth in food expenditures away from home. Taken together, our results illustrate how information technology can provide a meaningful increase in variety for urban consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Anenberg, Elliot & Kung, Edward, 2015. "Information technology and product variety in the city: The case of food trucks," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 60-78.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:90:y:2015:i:c:p:60-78
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2015.09.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lichy, Jessica & Dutot, Vincent & Kachour, Maher, 2022. "When technology leads social business: Food truck innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Kuang, Chun, 2017. "Does quality matter in local consumption amenities? An empirical investigation with Yelp," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 1-18.
    3. Elliot Anenberg & Chun Kuang & Edward Kung, 2022. "Social learning and local consumption amenities: Evidence from Yelp," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(2), pages 294-322, June.
    4. Lígia Isoni Auad & Verônica Cortez Ginani & Eliana Dos Santos Leandro & Aline Costa Santos Nunes & Luiz Roberto Pires Domingues Junior & Renata Puppin Zandonadi, 2018. "Who Is Serving Us? Food Safety Rules Compliance Among Brazilian Food Truck Vendors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Cerdá Suárez, Luis Manuel & Robina Ramírez, Rafael & Palos Sánchez, Pedro Ramiro, 2018. "The influence of health and environment-focused values on restaurateur satisfaction in organic restaurants: a descriptive analysis in Spain," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).

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