Information Asymmetry and Its Implications in Online Purchasing Behaviour:A Country Case Study

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse how certain variables in the online market affect the decision-making trajectory and actions toward reducing the information asymmetry faced in online purchasing. A survey and observation are conducted in order to understand the behavior and perceptions of online buyers toward the information given in online platforms. Descriptive and correlation analysis have been employed in order to evaluate the data collected and test the correlation between variables of the research model. It results that most participants take for granted the fact that sellers have more information than them when entering into a transaction agreement and this makes them feel inferior towards the superior power sellers possess in such interactions. This makes the traditional markets more preferred for them, however multiple sources such as reviews and ratings result as an alternative way of reducing the perceived information asymmetry.

Keywords

• information asymmetry
• online purchasing
• decision making
• albania