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Auctions with Numerous Bidders

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Caserta

    (Faculty of Economics, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)

  • Casper G. de Vries

    (Faculty of Economics, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)

Abstract

We study auctions in which the number of potential bidders is large, such as in Internet auctions. With numerous bidders, the expected revenue and the optimal bid function in a first price auction result in complicated expressions, except for a few simple distribution function for the bidders' valuations. We show that these expressions can be well approximated using extreme value theory without assuming a particular distribution function. The theory is applied to data from Internet auctions.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Caserta & Casper G. de Vries, 2005. "Auctions with Numerous Bidders," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 05-031/2, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20050031
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emmanuel Guerre & Isabelle Perrigne & Quang Vuong, 2000. "Optimal Nonparametric Estimation of First-Price Auctions," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 68(3), pages 525-574, May.
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    4. Einmahl, J. H.J. & Dekkers, A. L.M. & de Haan, L., 1989. "A moment estimator for the index of an extreme-value distribution," Other publications TiSEM 81970cb3-5b7a-4cad-9bf6-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
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    7. Laffont, Jean-Jacques & Ossard, Herve & Vuong, Quang, 1995. "Econometrics of First-Price Auctions," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 63(4), pages 953-980, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laurens de Haan & Casper de Vries & Chen Zhou, 2008. "The Extent of Internet Auction Markets," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 08-041/2, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Auctions; Numerous bidders; Extreme values; Internet auctions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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