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Why Popcorn Costs So Much At The Movies: And Other Pricing Puzzles (2008)

by Richard B. McKenzie(Favorite Author)

3.25 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0387769994 (ISBN13: 9780387769998)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Copernicus Books

review 1: The author is extremely smart, and will not hesitate to tell you so, so please be sure to pay close attention to his golden thoughts, and I think I'm going to gag. But he does have some interesting thoughts on pricing, and how a simple price point usually has a complex set of of needs and circumstances tied up in it. McKenzie digs through a wide variety of discounts, rebates, and pricing schemes, showing how they segment markets and relate to other concepts such as search time and marginal cost.The main thing I'm taking away from this is that despite appearances, price is almost always mutually agreed upon between buyer and seller. Each side has needs that are being fulfilled, and even "unfair" prices usually present both sides with clear (if subtle) benefits. I'm not as s... moreold on the idea that almost all buyers are rational actors as he is, but he does show how many buyers pursue reasonable buying strategies by being "rationally ignorant."
review 2: I thought this book would be similar to "Freakonomics", but it's way too heavy on economic theory for me. I skimmed the sections I found interesting on movie prices, popcorn at the movies, coupons and rebates, but I didn't learn anything knew. In fact, I disagreed with most of the author's way out theories (like women get paid less than men because men compete more strongly for higher wages in order to win better mates- huh?). I think sometimes the simplest theory is the correct explanation. less

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