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A Theory of Auctions with Endogenous Valuations

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  • Alex Gershkov
  • Benny Moldovanu
  • Philipp Strack
  • Mengxi Zhang

Abstract

We derive the symmetric, revenue-maximizing allocation of several units among agents who take costly actions that influence their values. The problem is equivalent to a reduced-form model where agents have nonexpected utility. The uniform-price auction and the discriminatory pay-your-bid auction with reserve prices that react to both demand and supply constitute symmetric, optimal mechanisms. We also identify a condition under which the overall optimal mechanism is indeed symmetric and illustrate the structure of the optimal asymmetric mechanism when the condition fails. The main tool in our analysis is an integral inequality based on Fan and Lorentz (1954).

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Gershkov & Benny Moldovanu & Philipp Strack & Mengxi Zhang, 2021. "A Theory of Auctions with Endogenous Valuations," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(4), pages 1011-1051.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/712735
    DOI: 10.1086/712735
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xu Lang, 2022. "Reduced-form budget allocation with multiple public alternatives," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 59(2), pages 335-359, August.
    3. Wasser, Cédric & Zhang, Mengxi, 2023. "Differential treatment and the winner's effort in contests with incomplete information," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 90-111.
    4. Agastya, Murali & Feng, Xin & Lu, Jingfeng, 2023. "Auction design with shortlisting when value discovery is covert," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design

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