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Auctions with imperfect commitment when the reserve may signal the auctioneer's type

Author

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  • Jun, Byoung Heon
  • Wolfstetter, Elmar G.

Abstract

If bidders are uncertain whether the auctioneer sticks to the announced reserve, some bidders respond by not bidding, speculating that the auctioneer may revoke the reserve. However, the reserve inadvertently signals the auctioneer's type, which drives a unique separating and a multitude of pooling equilibria. If one eliminates belief systems that violate the "intuitive criterion", one obtains a unique equilibrium reserve price equal to the seller's own valuation. Paradoxically, even if bidders initially believe that the auctioneer is bound by his reserve almost with certainty, commitment has no value.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun, Byoung Heon & Wolfstetter, Elmar G., 2013. "Auctions with imperfect commitment when the reserve may signal the auctioneer's type," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 403, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
    • Handle: RePEc:trf:wpaper:403
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    File URL: https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/15653/1/403.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Haile, Philip A., 2000. "Partial Pooling at the Reserve Price in Auctions with Resale Opportunities," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 231-248, November.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Auctions; signalling; mechanism design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • D45 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Rationing; Licensing

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