Document Type

Discussion Paper

Publication Date

11-24-2025

CFDP Number

d2474

CFDP Pages

57

Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) Code(s)

D18, D82, D83, L12, L51

Abstract

We study how privacy regulation affects menu pricing by a monopolist platform that collects and monetizes personal data. Consumers differ in privacy valuation and sophistication: naive users ignore privacy losses, while sophisticated users internalize them. The platform designs prices and data collection options to screen users. Without regulation, privacy allocations are distorted and naive users are exploited. Regulation through privacy-protecting defaults can create a market for information by inducing payments for data; hard caps on data collection protect naive users but may restrict efficient data trade.

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Economics Commons

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