florian dot dendorfer at utoronto dot ca
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Welcome to my web page! I am an economist at the Competition Bureau Canada. From 2023 to 2025, I was 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.
The views on this site are my own and do not represent the views or the position of the Commissioner of Competition of the Government of Canada.
| 2025 - | Economist, Competition Bureau Canada |
| 2023 - 2025 | Assistant Professor (teaching stream), University of Toronto |
| 2018 - 2019 | Consultant, TWS Partners |
| 2019 - 2023 | PhD Economics, University of St. Gallen (summa cum laude, awarded the GPEF Prize for the best thesis in economics) |
| 2015 - 2020 | MSc Economics, University of Munich |
| 2013 - 2016 | BA Political Science, University of Munich |
| 2011 - 2015 | BSc Economics, University of Munich |
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 We examine product recommendations in Amazon's 'Similar items to consider' box in the US and Canada, finding evidence of self-preferencing in Canada. In our dataset, alternatives to Amazon Basics (AB) products are sometimes recommended in the US but never in Canada, while non-AB products are sometimes recommended in Canada but never in the US. By comparing sales across domains, we find that non-AB products not recommended in Canada due to self-preferencing experience a 22% sales decrease compared to those that are not exposed to self-preferencing in the same way.
The Cost Of The Cold-Start Problem On Airbnb (with Regina Seibel)Abstract On platforms 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. This paper studies how policies aimed at mitigating the cold-start problem, specifically by lowering prices for new products, affect welfare and how much of the welfare effect is due to a change in the speed of social learning. Based on data from Airbnbs located in Manhattan, we estimate a structural model with short-lived consumers and long-lived hosts who make dynamic entry, exit, and pricing decisions. We then simulate a counterfactual reduction in Airbnb’s revenue fee for new listings. While this increases total welfare, we find that it does not accelerate social learning. By contrast, if the cost of the fee reduction is passed on to hosts, faster social learning in itself increases consumer welfare by up to 5% and is the main driver of the total welfare gain.
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