Prices versus auctions in large markets

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Theory
Year: 2021
Volume: 72
Issue: 4
Pages: 1297-1337

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Abstract This paper studies the use of posted prices and auctions in a large dynamic market with many short-lived sellers and long-lived buyers. Although a reserve-price auction maximizes the expected revenue, the optimal revenue decreases when the market becomes more buyer-friendly; namely, when buyers survive longer, face fewer competitors, and become more patient. As the market becomes more buyer-friendly, the revenue advantage of a reserve-price auction over posting a price also decreases, but using posted prices would lead to sale and allocative inefficiencies.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:joecth:v:72:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s00199-020-01313-w
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29