Understanding strategic bidding in multi‐unit auctions: a case study of the Texas electricity spot market

A-Tier
Journal: RAND Journal of Economics
Year: 2008
Volume: 39
Issue: 1
Pages: 86-114

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We examine the bidding behavior of firms in the Texas electricity spot market, where bidders submit hourly supply schedules to sell power. We characterize an equilibrium model of bidding and use detailed firm‐level data on bids and marginal costs to compare actual bidding behavior to theoretical benchmarks. Firms with large stakes in the market performed close to the theoretical benchmark of static profit maximization. However, smaller firms utilized excessively steep bid schedules significantly deviating from this benchmark. Further analysis suggests that payoff scale has an important effect on firms' willingness and ability to participate in complex, strategic market environments.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:randje:v:39:y:2008:i:1:p:86-114
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29