An Analysis of Pricing Models in the Electronic Book Market

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38.4.04
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Abstract
In this paper, we develop a game theoretic model to study the pricing of e-books and e-readers under two pricing models: wholesale and agency. We analyze pricing strategies for a publisher and a retailer. We identify the complementary relationship between e-books and e-readers as the main reason for the retailer to set a low e-book price in the wholesale model. Comparing the wholesale and the agency models, we find, in a wide range of market conditions, the price for e-book readers is lower in the agency model, leading to a higher e-book market share. However, a higher e-book price in the agency model lowers e-book consumption. Overall social welfare is lower in the agency model than in the wholesale model. While total consumer surplus is slightly higher in the agency model, largely because of a lower e-reader price, business profit is lower. The publisher, surprisingly, is worse off under the agency model. 5/13/14
Additional Details
Author Lin Hao and Ming Fan
Year 2014
Volume 38
Issue 4
Keywords Electronic book, e-reader, pricing, agency model, wholesale model
Page Numbers 1017-1032
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