Does Algorithmic Recommendation Weaken Consumers' Original Preferences? -- An Economic Analysis Based on Information Constraints
Abstract: The paper explores the topic of whether algorithmic recommendation systems radically change the preferences of consumers by constraining information. We construct a theoretical model of search costs, dynamic learning and endogenous preference formation, in which algorithms act as information intermediaries that selectively filter information about available options in a systematic manner. On the basis of extensive e-commerce purchases records of 35,874 purchases made by 1,000 participants over a …
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