Econ Papers Daily / 期刊论文
智能手机、信息与议价能力：来自中国牧区的证据
Smartphones, information, and bargaining power: Evidence from pastoral areas in China
摘要
This study examines the impact of smartphone adoption on livestock trading in pastoral China. We develop a bargaining and search model with two mechanisms: information discovery, which reduces herders’ search costs, and information posting, which expands market access. Using household survey data, we find that smartphone adoption increases selling prices. Mechanism analysis shows that traditional phone functions improve information access, while smartphone-specific features, especially information posting, enhance bargaining power by expanding selling channels and trader access. These findings demonstrate that digital technologies affect market outcomes not only through improved information access but also by reshaping bargaining structures and market participation.
中文摘要
本研究探讨了智能手机采用对中国牧区牲畜交易的影响。我们构建了一个包含两种机制的议价与搜索模型：信息发现机制，降低了牧民的搜索成本；信息发布机制，扩大了市场准入。利用家户调查数据，我们发现智能手机的采用提高了销售价格。机制分析表明，传统电话功能改善了信息获取，而智能手机特有功能，尤其是信息发布，通过拓宽销售渠道和增加交易商接触，增强了议价能力。这些发现表明，数字技术不仅通过改善信息获取，还通过重塑议价结构和市场参与，影响市场结果。