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Research Paper | Economics | Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026 | Pages: 1724 - 1728 | India
Revealed Preferences in Food Delivery Apps: Impact of Dynamic Pricing & Discounts
Abstract: The rapid growth of digital food delivery platforms in India has transformed traditional retail patterns and reshaped consumer decision making in subtle yet powerful ways. Drawing on the economic theory of revealed preferences introduced by Paul Samuelson, this paper examines how observed purchasing behavior on quick commerce platforms serves as a practical lens for understanding consumer choices without relying on abstract utility assumptions. It discusses how dynamic pricing, geo targeting, surge mechanisms, subscription models, bundling practices, and digital coupons are deployed to balance supply and demand while extracting willingness to pay. At the same time, the analysis considers behavioral responses such as loss aversion, anchoring, impulse expansion of basket size, and strategic timing of purchases, highlighting that observed choices may not always align with consumers? long-term interests. The study also reviews emerging evidence on artificial intelligence driven pricing systems, noting both their operational efficiency gains and their potential to alienate price sensitive users. Beyond commercial outcomes, ethical and policy concerns are addressed, including transparency in pricing, rider welfare in the gig economy, algorithmic accountability, and risks of predatory discounting in competitive markets. The paper positions dynamic pricing and discount strategies as tools that can smooth demand and improve capacity utilization yet cautions that without regulatory oversight, they may deepen inequities and obscure distributional effects in developing economies.
Keywords: Revealed preferences, Dynamic pricing, Digital food delivery platforms, Consumer behavior, Pricing transparency
How to Cite?: Nikitha Gopi, "Revealed Preferences in Food Delivery Apps: Impact of Dynamic Pricing & Discounts", Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1724-1728, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26308105021, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26308105021