Search Fatigue

31 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2012 Last revised: 26 May 2023

See all articles by Bruce I. Carlin

Bruce I. Carlin

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Anderson School of Management

Florian Ederer

Boston University - Markets, Public Policy, and Law; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Date Written: March 2012

Abstract

Consumer search is not only costly but also tiring. We characterize the intertemporal effects that search fatigue has on oligopoly prices, product proliferation, and the provision of consumer assistance (i.e., advice). These effects vary based on whether search is all-or-nothing or sequential in nature, whether learning takes place, and whether consumers exhibit brand loyalty. We perform welfare analysis and highlight the novel empirical implications that our analysis generates.

Suggested Citation

Carlin, Bruce I. and Ederer, Florian, Search Fatigue (March 2012). NBER Working Paper No. w17895, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2014588

Bruce I. Carlin (Contact Author)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Anderson School of Management ( email )

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Florian Ederer

Boston University - Markets, Public Policy, and Law ( email )

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