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Masterful Meisters? Voluntary Certification and Quality in the German Crafts Sector

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  • Fredriksen, Kaja
  • Runst, Petrik
  • Bizer, Kilian

Abstract

Voluntary certification systems potentially reduce search costs in markets with imperfect information. Service markets with many heterogeneous firms – such as the crafts market – are prone to information imperfections and can therefore potentially benefit from such informational mechanisms. We examine if the Meister qualification in the German crafts sector improves service quality as perceived by consumers. We find a significant and positive relationship between the Meister title and consumer ratings and conclude that the certificate is a credible sign of quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Fredriksen, Kaja & Runst, Petrik & Bizer, Kilian, 2017. "Masterful Meisters? Voluntary Certification and Quality in the German Crafts Sector," ifh Working Papers 3 (2017), Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh), revised 2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifhwps:32017
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    Cited by:

    1. Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2018. "Does occupational deregulation affect in-company vocational training? – Evidence from the 2004 Reform of the German Trade and Crafts Code," ifh Working Papers 14/2018, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transaction Costs; Search Costs; Voluntary Certification; Service Quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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