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A dynamic mechanism and surplus extraction under ambiguity

Subir Bose and Arup Daripa ()

Journal of Economic Theory, 2009, vol. 144, issue 5, 2084-2114

Abstract: We study the question of auction design in an IPV setting characterized by ambiguity. We assume that the preferences of agents exhibit ambiguity aversion; in particular, they are represented by the epsilon-contamination model. We show that a simple variation of a discrete Dutch auction can extract almost all surplus. This contrasts with optimal auctions under IPV without ambiguity as well as with optimal static auctions with ambiguity--in all of these, types other than the lowest participating type obtain a positive surplus. An important point of departure is that the modified Dutch mechanism is dynamic rather than static, establishing that under ambiguity aversion--even when the setting is IPV in all other respects--a dynamic mechanism can have additional bite over its static counterparts. A further general insight is that the standard revelation principle does not automatically extend to environments not characterized by subjective expected utility.

Keywords: Ambiguity; aversion; Epsilon; contamination; Modified; Dutch; auction; Dynamic; mechanism; Surplus; extraction; Revelation; principle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (50)

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Related works:
Working Paper: A Dynamic Mechanism and Surplus Extraction Under Ambiguity (2008) Downloads
Working Paper: A Dynamic Mechanism and Surplus Extraction Under Ambiguity (2007) Downloads
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