florian dot dendorfer at utoronto dot ca
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Welcome to my web page! I am an assistant professor of economics (teaching stream) at the University of Toronto.
My research focuses on industrial organization. In particular, I am interested in the digital economy and platform markets.
Abstract In this paper, I analyze the welfare effect of a vertically integrated gatekeeper platform selling its own first-party product, i.e., first-party selling, as well as the platform's incentive to favor the first-party product in the product recommendations it makes, i.e., self-preferencing. I find that, irrespective of self-preferencing, both consumer welfare and platform revenue are higher under first-party selling because first-party selling mitigates double marginalization. Additionally, third-party product prices are lower in expected terms under first-party selling, either because the platform reduces the commission fee (with self-preferencing) or downstream competition is fiercer (without self-preferencing). Finally, I show that both consumers and the platform are better off if the platform commits not to engage in self-preferencing.
Abstract In digital markets with peer-to-peer reviews, new products encounter the so-called 'cold-start' problem: Little-known products are bought too rarely and remain little known. In this paper, we examine the inefficiency associated with social learning on Airbnb, including its implications for hosts’ price, entry and exit decisions. We estimate a dynamic structural model of demand and supply for Airbnbs in Manhattan, New York. We find that addressing the cold-start problem by lowering the price of new listings relative to incumbent ones leads to a welfare increase exceeding 8% of total host revenue.
ECO380H1F Markets, Competition, and Strategy (syllabus)
L5101 Thursdays 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (lecture) and 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (tutorial), room MS2172
ECO204Y1Y Microeconomic Theory and Applications (for Commerce) (syllabus)
L0301 Wednesdays 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (lecture) and Thursdays 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (tutorial), room SS2118
L0401 Wednesdays 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (lecture) and Thursdays 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (tutorial), room SS2117
ECO380H1S Markets, Competition, and Strategy (syllabus)
L5101 Thursdays 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (lecture) and 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (tutorial), room MC252
ECO204Y1Y Microeconomic Theory and Applications (for Commerce) (syllabus)
L0301 Wednesdays 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (lecture) and Thursdays 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (tutorial), room SS2118
L0401 Wednesdays 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (lecture) and Thursdays 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (tutorial), room SS2117