Learn Before
  • Adverse Selection (Hidden Attributes Problem)

The Market for 'Lemons' (Adverse Selection in the Used Car Market)

The 'market for lemons' is a famous economic model that illustrates how hidden attributes can lead to market failure. The model focuses on the used car market, where 'lemon' is a slang term for a vehicle discovered to be defective after it has been purchased. In this market, sellers possess private information about their vehicle's true quality, while buyers do not. This information gap forces prospective buyers to base their offers on the average quality of cars in the market, which can discourage owners of high-quality cars from selling and may result in a market dominated by low-quality 'lemons'.

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CORE Econ

Ch.10 Market successes and failures: The societal effects of private decisions - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ

The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ

Introduction to Microeconomics Course

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Learn After
  • Hypothetical Used Car Market with Perfect Information

  • Buyer's Pricing Strategy Under Information Asymmetry in the 'Lemons' Market

  • Adverse Selection Resulting in a Low-Quality Equilibrium

  • Numerical Scenario for the 'Lemons' Market

  • Market Outcome with Hidden Information

  • Signaling in the Used Car Market

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