Preference-discovery and Repeated Consumer Search

• Project/Area Number: 24K04899
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Sangyo University
• Principal Investigator: 潘 聡 京都産業大学, 経済学部, 准教授 (30807425)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-04-01 – 2027-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
• Keywords: Preference-discovery / Repeated Consumer Search

Outline of Research at the Start

The existing models of consumer search theory strongly rely on the assumption that consumers perfectly know their preferences before they search and, thus, fail to capture such innovative products. In this project, I will construct a theoretical model that captures consumers’ preference discovery when they search. I aim to answer the following questions: How do consumers search when they discover their preferences through cumulative experiences? How do firms adjust their strategies accordingly? What regulation policy should be implemented?