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Meetings and Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoming Cai
  • Pieter Gautier
  • Ronald Wolthoff

Abstract

In this paper, we construct a framework to investigate how the way in which market participants meet each other affects outcomes like equilibrium trading mechanisms and allocations. We do so in an environment in which identical sellers post mechanisms to compete for buyers with ex-ante heterogeneous private valuations. We show that the market may segment into multiple submarkets, each consisting of all sellers posting a particular mechanism and all buyers deciding to visit those sellers. Under mild conditions, high-valuation buyers are all located in the same submarket. Then, we establish under what conditions, low valuation buyers are in: (i) the same submarket, (ii) a different submarket and (iii) a mixture of (i) and (ii). The decentralized equilibrium is always efficient when sellers can post auctions with reserve prices or entry fees.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoming Cai & Pieter Gautier & Ronald Wolthoff, 2022. "Meetings and Mechanisms," Working Papers tecipa-727, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-727
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    Other versions of this item:

    • Xiaoming Cai & Pieter Gautier & Ronald Wolthoff, 2023. "Meetings And Mechanisms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 64(1), pages 155-185, February.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    7. Kenneth Burdett & Shouyong Shi & Randall Wright, 2001. "Pricing and Matching with Frictions," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 109(5), pages 1060-1085, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cai, Xiaoming & Gautier, Pieter A. & Wolthoff, Ronald P., 2017. "Search frictions, competing mechanisms and optimal market segmentation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 453-473.
    2. Cai, Xiaoming & Gautier, Pieter A. & Wolthoff, Ronald P., 2024. "Spatial Search," IZA Discussion Papers 16824, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. De Sinopoli, Francesco & Ferraris, Leo & Meroni, Claudia, 2024. "Poisson Search," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    4. James Albrecht & Xiaoming Cai & Pieter Gautier & Susan Vroman, 2024. "Competitive search with private information: Can price signal quality?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 24-054/VI, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Auster, Sarah & Gottardi, Piero, 2024. "Sorting versus screening in decentralized markets with adverse selection," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Auster, Sarah & Gottardi, Piero, 2019. "Competing mechanisms in markets for lemons," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 14(3), July.
    7. Gautier, Pieter A. & Moraga-González, José L., 2018. "Search intensity, wage dispersion and the minimum wage," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 80-86.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    search frictions; directed search; matching function; meeting technology; competing mechanisms; competing auctions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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