Actively Learning About Demand and the Dynamics of Price Adjustment

By observing the quantity demanded at particular prices, a firm may learn about the parameters of its demand curve. In such an environment, price changes obstruct the learning process by inducing additional noise. The authors' paper constructs a dynamic model where a price-setting firm endogenously controls the speed of learning. The model provides a possible explanation for price inertia, as a stable pricing policy allows the firm to learn more rapidly, which improves future expected profits. Furthermore, even in the long run, learning continues to affect the firm's optimal price.