Allocating multiple units

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Theory
Year: 2002
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Pages: 733-750

Authors (2)

Kala Krishna (Pennsylvania State University) Torben Tranæ s (not in RePEc)

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

This paper studies the allocation and rent distribution in multi-unit, combinatorial-bid auctions under complete information. We focus on the natural multi-unit analogue of the first-price auction, where buyers bid total payments, pay their bids, and where the seller allocates goods to maximize his revenue. While there are many equilibria in this auction, only efficient equilibria remain when the truthful equilibrium restriction of the menu-auction literature is used. Focusing on these equilibria we first show that the first-price auction just described is revenue and outcome equivalent to a Vickrey auction, which is the multi unit analogue of a second-price auction. Furthermore, we characterize these equilibria when valuations take a number of different forms: diminishing marginal valuations, increasing average valuations, and marginal valuations with single turning points.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:joecth:v:20:y:2002:i:4:p:733-750
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25