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Signaling Covertly Acquired Information

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  • Mehmet Ekmekci
  • Nenad Kos

Abstract

We study the interplay between information acquisition and signaling. A sender decides whether to learn his type at a cost prior to taking a signaling action. A receiver responds after observing the signaling action. In the benchmark model where the sender’s information acquisition decision is observed the sender does not acquire information and, therefore, does not signal. A rationale for signaling is provided by the model in which information acquisition is covert. There, in the unique equilibrium outcome surviving a form of never weak best response refinement the sender does acquire information and signals when the information is cheap.Keywords: Signaling, information acquisition, refinements. JEL Classification Numbers: D82, G34.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehmet Ekmekci & Nenad Kos, 2020. "Signaling Covertly Acquired Information," Working Papers 658, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:igi:igierp:658
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Helmut Bester & Matthias Lang & Jianpei Li, 2021. "Signaling versus Auditing," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 52(4), pages 859-883, December.
    2. In-Koo Cho, 2023. "Signaling games with endogenous types," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 52(1), pages 157-174, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    signaling; information acquisition; refinements. jel classification numbers: d82; g34.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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