The Dynamics of Seller Reputation: Theory and Evidence from eBay / Luis Cabral, Ali Hortacsu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cabral, Luis.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Hortacsu, Ali.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w10363.

NBER working paper series no. w10363

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

The Dynamics of Seller Reputation

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2004.

Summary:

We propose a basic theoretical model of eBay's reputation mechanism, derive a series of implications and empirically test their validity. Our theoretical model features both adverse selection and moral hazard. We show that when a seller receives a negative rating for the first time his reputation decreases and so does his effort level. This implies a decline in sales and price; and an increase in the rate of arrival of subsequent negative feedback. Our model also suggests that sellers with worse records are more likely to exit (and possibly re-enter under a new identity), whereas better sellers have more to gain from buying a reputation' by building up a record of favorable feedback through purchases rather than sales. Our empirical evidence, based on a panel data set of seller feedback histories and cross-sectional data on transaction prices collected from eBay is broadly consistent with all of these predictions. An important conclusion of our results is that eBay's reputation system gives way to strategic responses from both buyers and sellers.

Notes:

Print version record

March 2004.