Raising rivals’ cost in multi-unit auctions

B-Tier
Journal: International Journal of Industrial Organization
Year: 2017
Volume: 50
Issue: C
Pages: 473-490

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

The objective many telecom regulators want to achieve when they decide to auction spectrum is that acquiring firms pay a market price (based on the opportunity cost principle). The simultaneous ascending auction may fail in this respect, as it provides bidders with an opportunity to engage in strategic demand reduction. This paper asks whether the combinatorial clock auction (CCA) fares better in this respect. We show that the answer to this question depends on the objectives bidders have. If bidders have only the slightest preference to raise rivals’ cost, they will use the opportunities the CCA provides them to engage in strategic demand expansion. This is even the case when the clock phase ends with excess demand.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:indorg:v:50:y:2017:i:c:p:473-490
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25