On Reputation - A Microfoundation of Contract Enforcement and Price Rigidity

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_C3A545F769A4
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
On Reputation - A Microfoundation of Contract Enforcement and Price Rigidity
Journal
The Economic Journal
Author(s)
Fehr E., Brown M., Zehnder C.
ISSN
0013-0133
Publication state
Published
Issued date
03/2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
119
Number
536
Pages
333-353
Language
english
Abstract
We study the impact of reputational incentives in markets characterised by moral hazard problems. Social preferences have been shown to enhance contract enforcement in these markets, while at the same time generating considerable wage and price rigidity. Reputation powerfully amplifies the positive effects of social preferences on contract enforcement by increasing contract efficiency substantially. This effect is, however, associated with a considerable bilateralisation of market interactions, suggesting that it may aggravate price rigidities. Surprisingly, reputation in fact weakens the wage and price rigidities arising from social preferences. Thus, in markets characterised by moral hazard, reputational incentives unambiguously increase mutually beneficial exchanges, reduce rents, and render markets more responsive to supply and demand shocks.
Web of science
Create date
16/09/2008 10:16
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:38
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