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Markets for professional services: queues and mediocrity

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Abstract

We analyze a dynamic, decentralized market with endogenous entry, where in each period the active professionals supply one unit of an indivisible service at varying degrees of quality. The customers that have entered the market are randomly matched with the active professionals and prices are set by (complete information) pair-wise bargaining. In its unique steady state, the market leads to an excess diversity of quality and customers may have to suffer costly delays. Notably, efficiency is not regained as per period delay costs disappear. We also show that a professional college setting licensing rules will improve welfare (and even Consumer Surplus), relative to the free market, whenever the inefficiency is caused by a large enough excess supply.

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  • Clara Ponsati & Jozsef Sakovics, 2005. "Markets for professional services: queues and mediocrity," Edinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series 133, Edinburgh School of Economics, University of Edinburgh.
    • Handle: RePEc:edn:esedps:133
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    1. Stiglitz, J E, 1979. "Equilibrium in Product Markets with Imperfect Information," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 69(2), pages 339-345, May.
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    7. Steven J. Davis, 2001. "The Quality Distribution of Jobs and the Structure of Wages in Search Equilibrium," NBER Working Papers 8434, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    9. Leland, Hayne E, 1979. "Quacks, Lemons, and Licensing: A Theory of Minimum Quality Standards," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 87(6), pages 1328-1346, December.
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    13. repec:bla:econom:v:70:y:2003:i:279:p:385-404 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Max Blouin, 2001. "Equilibrium in a Decentralized Market with Adverse Selection," Cahiers de recherche CREFE / CREFE Working Papers 128, CREFE, Université du Québec à Montréal, revised Mar 2001.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anwar Ahmed W & Sákovics József, 2007. "A Decentralized Market for a Perishable Good," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 7(1), pages 1-25, February.

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