Middlemen in Search Equilibrium: A Survey

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 g...