Standard Auctions with Identity-Dependent Externalities

Gopal Das Varma

RAND Journal of Economics, 2002, vol. 33, issue 4, 689-708

Abstract: I analyze equilibrium bidding behavior in the open ascending-bid auction with identity-dependent externalities. With reciprocal externalities, the allocation is determined by bidders' consumption values alone. With large nonreciprocal externalities, the open auction generates higher expected revenue compared to standard sealed-bid auctions. The progress of the open auction reveals more information about the identity of the potential winner, allowing active bidders greater opportunity to avoid incurring payoff-reducing externalities. The associated option value to staying active up until a relatively high price translates into higher expected revenue. Multiple bidders may sequentially quit at the same price, and relative to sealed-bid auctions, bidders experience less ex post regret.

Date: 2002
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (48)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rje:randje:v:33:y:2002:i:winter:p:689-708

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://editorialexp ... i-bin/rje_online.cgi

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in RAND Journal of Economics from The RAND Corporation
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ().