Rationing and Rent Dissipation in the Presence of Heterogeneous Individuals

Abstract

This paper discusses the implications of rationing by waiting when consumers have different time costs and personal valuations. The joint distribution function of time costs and personal valuations is used to characterize market equilibrium. It is argued that, under certain conditions, an increase in the variance of time costs will reduce the dissipation of rent. Furthermore, it is shown that introducing a secondary market for a rationed good does not necessarily improve welfare because total surplus under rationing by waiting depends more on the variance than on the level of time costs and personal valuations. The model is also used to discuss other institutions that involve rent-seeking activities, such as the patent system and import quotas. Since it is the variance rather than the mean level of time costs and personal valuations that matters, it is shown that the introduction of a secondary market for a rationed good does not necessarily reduce the welfare loss due to rationing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Political Economy is the property of University of Chicago Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)