Agency Problems and Reputation in Expert Services: Evidence from Auto Repair
通过实地实验，研究汽车维修中技师与车主之间的信息不对称如何导致过度或不足维修，并检验声誉机制（通过重复交易）能否改善这一问题。
Using a field experiment involving undercover visits to auto repair garages with a test vehicle, I first examine how asymmetric information between mechanics and motorists over auto repair service quality affects outcomes. I then examine whether reputation mitigates these problems via a matched‐pair treatment in which undercover researchers appeared as either one‐time or repeat‐business customers. The results indicate that under and overtreatment are widespread, and that reputation via a repeat business mechanism does not improve outcomes significantly.