Market Selection and the Information Content of Prices

S-Tier
Journal: Econometrica
Year: 2021
Volume: 89
Issue: 5
Pages: 2049-2079

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study information aggregation when n bidders choose, based on their private information, between two concurrent common‐value auctions. There are ks identical objects on sale through a uniform‐price auction in market s and there are an additional kr objects on auction in market r, which is identical to market s except for a positive reserve price. The reserve price in market r implies that information is not aggregated in this market. Moreover, if the object‐to‐bidder ratio in market s exceeds a certain cutoff, then information is not aggregated in market s either. Conversely, if the object‐to‐bidder ratio is less than this cutoff, then information is aggregated in market s as the market grows arbitrarily large. Our results demonstrate how frictions in one market can disrupt information aggregation in a linked, frictionless market because of the pattern of market selection by imperfectly informed bidders.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:emetrp:v:89:y:2021:i:5:p:2049-2079
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24