Discussion paper
DP12936 Price Customization and Targeting in Matching Markets
We investigate the effects on targeting and welfare of uniform pricing (be it explicitly mandated, induced by privacy regulations, or the result of the transition from a centralized to a decentralized market structure). We build a model of many-to-many matching in which preferences are both vertically and horizontally differentiated. In the absence of uniform-price obligations, platforms maximize profits through price customization, using information on local elasticities. We show how uniform pricing may either increase or decrease targeting, and identify conditions under which it is beneficial to consumer surplus. The analysis has implications for online retailing, ad exchanges, and media markets
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