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Quadratic funding with incomplete information

Author

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  • Luis Mota Freitas

    (Northwestern University)

  • Wilfredo L. Maldonado

    (University of São Paulo)

Abstract

Quadratic funding is a public good provision mechanism that satisfies desirable theoretical properties, such as efficiency under complete information, and has been gaining popularity in practical applications. We evaluate this mechanism in a setting of incomplete information regarding individual preferences, and show that this result only holds under knife-edge conditions. We also estimate the inefficiency of the mechanism in a variety of settings, and characterize circumstances in which inefficiency increases with population size. We show how these findings can be used to estimate the mechanism’s inefficiency in a wide range of situations under incomplete information.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Mota Freitas & Wilfredo L. Maldonado, 2025. "Quadratic funding with incomplete information," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 64(1), pages 43-67, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:64:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s00355-024-01512-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-024-01512-7
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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