The Effect Of Information On Consumer And Market Behavior

Abstract: In order to understand how the market system provides information to buyers, the effect of information on consumer and market behavior is examined from the perspectives of economics, consumer psychology, and public policy. Economic analyses of information transmission and advertising are presented. Effects of different types of information on the behavior of firms, and information search strategies which consumers use to extract information from mass media advertisements are evaluated. Theories of information encoding and storage are described in terms of their implications for consumer research. The causes of information imperfections in local consumer markets (markets where different prices are charged for the same quality) are reviewed. Advertising regulation policy considerations are also examined. Consumer information systems for local services are discussed from the viewpoint of information needs and consumer patterns of information avoidance. (nm).