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Preferences and Decision Support in Competitive Bidding

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  • Fugger, Nicolas
  • Gillen, Philippe
  • Rasch, Alexander
  • Zeppenfeld, Christopher

Abstract

We examine bidding behavior in first-price sealed-bid and Dutch auctions, which are strategically equivalent under standard preferences. We investigate whether the empirical breakdown of this equivalence is due to (non-standard) preferences or due to the different complexity of the two formats, i.e., a different level of mathematical or individual sophistication. First, we elicit measures of individual preferences and secondly manipulate the degree of complexity by offering various levels of decision support. Our results show that the equivalence of the two auction formats only breaks down in the absence of decision support. This indicates that the empirical breakdown is caused by differing complexity between the two formats rather than non-standard preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Fugger, Nicolas & Gillen, Philippe & Rasch, Alexander & Zeppenfeld, Christopher, 2016. "Preferences and Decision Support in Competitive Bidding," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145849, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc16:145849
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    1. Collins, Sean M. & James, Duncan, 2024. "Hidden in plain sight: Payoffs, probability, space, and time in isomorphic tasks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 117-136.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design

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