A Study of Online Price Dispersion in the Digital Camera Market: Evidence from a US and UK Price Comparison Site

Vo, Quoc Thanh (2006) A Study of Online Price Dispersion in the Digital Camera Market: Evidence from a US and UK Price Comparison Site. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This study finds evidence to conclude that, the number of sellers, product rank, country, camera type, camera make, camera release date and store rating gap may all act as possible significant predictors for online price dispersion in the digital camera market.

Empirical results support BMSs (2004a) finding that percentage gap dispersion is greatest when only two sellers list prices, and fall when there are more sellers. Some evidence is also found to support SBs (2001) conclusion concerning service and brand quality acting as drivers for dispersion. In addition, the results support Stiglers (1961) contention that more expensive products tend to be less price dispersed.

The study finds the US to be more dispersed than the UK, with a possible explanation being the higher average number of sellers. Overall, the significance and direction of relationships between dispersion and the predictors depend upon the measurement of dispersion adopted.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords: economics, industrial economics, price dispersion, online price dispersion, comparison site, stigler, information, economics of information, camera, digital camera, online, internet
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 05 Jan 2007
Last Modified: 08 Mar 2018 04:13
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/20513

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