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Bidding in Multi-Unit Auctions under Limited Information

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  • Kasberger, Bernhard
  • Woodward, Kyle

Abstract

We study multi-unit auctions in which bidders have limited knowledge of opponent strategies and values. We characterize optimal prior-free bids; these bids minimize the maximal loss in expected utility resulting from uncertainty surrounding opponent behavior. Optimal bids are simply computable despite bidders having multi-dimensional private information, and in certain cases admit closed-form solutions. In the pay-as-bid auction the minimax-loss bid is unique; in the uniform-price auction the minimax-loss bid is unique if the bidder is allowed to determine the quantities for which they bid, as in many practical applications. Payments to the seller may be higher in either auction format, but minimax-loss bids are never uniformly higher in the pay-as-bid auction.

Suggested Citation

  • Kasberger, Bernhard & Woodward, Kyle, 2021. "Bidding in Multi-Unit Auctions under Limited Information," MPRA Paper 111185, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:111185
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    JEL classification:

    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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