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Meeting Technologies and Optimal Trading Mechanisms in Competitive Search Marks

Author

Listed:
  • Ronald Wolthoff

    (University of Toronto)

  • Ludo Visschers

    (Universidad Carlos III, Madrid and University of Edinburgh)

  • Benjamin Lester

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

Abstract

In many markets, sellers advertise their good with an asking price. This is a price at which the seller will take his good off the market and trade immediately, though it is understood that a buyer can submit an offer below the asking price and that this offer may be accepted if the seller receives no better offers. Despite their prevalence in a variety of real world markets, asking prices have received little attention in the academic literature. We construct an environment with a few simple, realistic ingredients and demonstrate that using an asking price is optimal: it is the pricing mechanism that maximizes sellers' revenues and it implements the efficient outcome in equilibrium. We provide a complete characterization of this equilibrium and use it to explore the positive implications of this pricing mechanism for transaction prices and allocations.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Wolthoff & Ludo Visschers & Benjamin Lester, 2014. "Meeting Technologies and Optimal Trading Mechanisms in Competitive Search Marks," 2014 Meeting Papers 188, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed014:188
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    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions

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