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All‐Pay Auctions With A Buy‐Price Option

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  • Minbo Xu
  • Sanxi Li
  • Jianye Yan

Abstract

This paper studies all‐pay auctions in which there is a buy‐price option for bidders to guarantee purchases at a seller‐specified price. We analyze symmetric increasing bidding equilibria in the first‐ and second‐price all‐pay auctions with the buy‐price option. While the optimal buy‐price in the second price is higher than are those in the first‐price all‐pay auction, both formats maintain the same expected profit. With an endogenous entry process, all‐pay auctions with the buy‐price can attract more consumers and ultimately reach a higher expected profit than does the uniform posted‐price selling mechanism. (JEL D44, L11, L81)

Suggested Citation

  • Minbo Xu & Sanxi Li & Jianye Yan, 2019. "All‐Pay Auctions With A Buy‐Price Option," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(1), pages 617-630, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:57:y:2019:i:1:p:617-630
    DOI: 10.1111/ecin.12585
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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