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An extensive form solution to the adverse selection problem in principal/multi-agent environments

Author

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  • John Duggan

    (Department of Political Science and Department of Economics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA)

Abstract

When agents have quasi-linear preferences, every incentive compatible social choice function can be implemented by a simple extensive form mechanism, even if agents are allowed to use mixed strategies. The second stage of the mechanism, which is used to elicit the agents' true preferences, is not reached in equilibrium; it gives agents strict dominant strategies, so equilibrium outcomes are not sensitive to agents' beliefs off the equilibrium path. This solves the multiple equilibrium problem of a principal facing several agents: the mechanism implements any solution to the principal's second best maximization problem. The specification of incentive compatibility constraints in the principal's problem presupposes a precise knowledge of the agents' beliefs. However, the above mechanism can be modified to implement the principal's second best (to within arbitrarily small perturbations of transfers), regardless of the agents' conditional beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • John Duggan, 1998. "An extensive form solution to the adverse selection problem in principal/multi-agent environments," Review of Economic Design, Springer;Society for Economic Design, vol. 3(2), pages 167-191.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reecde:v:3:y:1998:i:2:p:167-191
    Note: Received: 30 April 1997 / Accepted: 16 September 1997
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew O. Jackson, 2001. "A crash course in implementation theory," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 18(4), pages 655-708.
    2. Müller, Christoph, 2020. "Robust implementation in weakly perfect Bayesian strategies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Brusco, Sandro, 2006. "Perfect Bayesian implementation in economic environments," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 129(1), pages 1-30, July.
    4. John Duggan & Joanne Roberts, 2002. "Implementing the Efficient Allocation of Pollution," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(4), pages 1070-1078, September.
    5. Tomoeda, Kentaro, 2019. "Efficient investments in the implementation problem," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 247-278.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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