Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-68c7f8b79f-pbt68 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-01-20T17:33:58.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
Coming soon

Middlemen in Search Equilibrium

A Survey

Expected online publication date:  23 April 2026

Grace Xun Gong
Affiliation:
Zhejiang University
Ziqi Qiao
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Randall Wright
Affiliation:
Zhejiang University and Wisconsin School of Business

Summary

Surveys the literature on middlemen (i.e., intermediation in exchange) reviewing, extending and consolidating key developments in the field. This is important because intermediated trade is common in reality but absent in standard general equilibrium theory. The authors focus on research using search theory. In various models, agents may act as middlemen when they are good at search, bargaining, recognizing quality, storing inventories, using credit, etc. The theory applies to markets for goods, inputs or assets. The authors discuss versions with indivisible or divisible goods, fixed or endogenous participation, stationary and dynamic equilibria, and some implications for efficiency and volatility.

Information

Type
Element
Information
Online ISBN: 9781009700313
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this Element is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

Save element to Kindle

To save this element to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Middlemen in Search Equilibrium
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
×

Save element to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Middlemen in Search Equilibrium
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
×

Save element to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Middlemen in Search Equilibrium
Available formats No formats are currently available for this content.
×