Bidding Asymmetries in Multi-Unit Auctions

Bidding Asymmetries in Multi-Unit Auctions
Author: Gregory S. Crawford
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2005
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper introduces and tests Bid Function Equilibria (BFE) in the British spot market for electricity. BFE are Nash Equilibria of an oligopoly model of multi-unit auctions under complete information designed to reflect wholesale electricity markets. Unlike existing theories of electricity supply, BFE predict asymmetric bidding by producers: a single firm (the price-setter) bids strategically while other forms (non-price-setters) bid their costs. Using data on bid functions between 1993 and 1995, we find strong empirical support for the theory. We conclude that BFE has important implications for the design and governance of electricity markets.

Multi-unit Auctions with Uncertain Supply and Single-unit Demand

Multi-unit Auctions with Uncertain Supply and Single-unit Demand
Author: Edward J. Anderson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre:
ISBN:

We study multi-unit auctions where bidders have single-unit demand and asymmetric information. For symmetric equilibria, we identify circumstances where uniform-pricing is better for the auctioneer than pay-as-bid pricing, and where transparency improves the revenue of the auctioneer. An issue with the uniform-price auction is that seemingly collusive equilibria can exist. We show that such outcomes are less likely if the traded volume of the auctioneer is uncertain. But if bidders are asymmetric ex-ante, then both a price áoor and a price cap are normally needed to get a unique equilibrium, which is well behaved.

When Less (Potential Demand) is More (Revenue)

When Less (Potential Demand) is More (Revenue)
Author: Orly Sade
Publisher:
Total Pages: 46
Release: 2005
Genre:
ISBN:

We show that asymmetry in bidders' capacity constraints plays an important role in inhibiting collusion and promoting competitive outcomes in multi-unit common value auctions. This effect seems to be related to the increased difficulty of coordination when there are fundamental differences between bidders. The discriminatory auction is shown to be more susceptible to collusion than is the uniform-price auction and consequently asymmetry in capacity constraints plays a more important role in the discriminatory auction. These results suggest that the revenue maximizing auction format may depend heavily on a variety of factors specific to particular auction settings.

Bidding Behaviour in Multi-Unit Auctions

Bidding Behaviour in Multi-Unit Auctions
Author: Rebecca Catherine Elskamp
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

This thesis contains three essays on the topic of bidding behaviour in multi-unit auctions. The first essay develops and experimentally tests multi-unit auction theory to identify the effects of "scaling up" multi-unit auction environments on individual bidding behaviour. A uniquely tractable environment is developed that leads to the construction of uniform auctions of different scales, where the prediction is that risk neutral bidders' bids on the last unit they demand are independent of scale. Two main effects were observed in the experimental data. Regardless of scale, bidders were found to bid more aggressively than predicted by the theory. Secondly, small scale effects were observed, as bids were more aggressive in the small scale relative to the larger scale treatment. The theoretical consequences of risk aversion, joy of winning, and anticipated regret are analyzed to explain these deviations from predictions. The second essay provides empirical evidence on how economic agents converge to optimality. Learning direction theory is applied to bidding behaviour from the Ontario dairy quota auction, following a change in pricing rule from uniform to discriminatory. Two dimensions of bidding behaviour are examined at the individual bidder level, bid prices and number of price-quantity bid pairs. Adjustments in bidding behaviour are broadly consistent with the ex-post rationality. Experience acquired under the discriminatory pricing rule is found to have diminishing effects on adjustments made to bidding behaviour, consistent with bidders converging towards optimality. The third essay examines the effect of two simultaneous policy changes, implemented in the Ontario dairy quota auction, to determine whether these changes were successful in achieving performance goals. Results of a series of regression models indicate that these two policy changes had no effect on clearing prices. Rather, these two policy changes were found to significantly reduce revenue from quantity purchased, total quantity transferred and total quantity offered. The combination of a significant reduction in bid prices and individual quantity demanded, paralleled by an increase in individual quantity offered appears to have been the underlying mechanisms, in terms of individual bidding/offering behaviour, through which the these two policies failed to meet performance goals.

Auction Theory

Auction Theory
Author: Vijay Krishna
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2009-09-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0080922937

Auction Theory, Second Edition improves upon his 2002 bestseller with a new chapter on package and position auctions as well as end-of-chapter questions and chapter notes. Complete proofs and new material about collusion complement Krishna’s ability to reveal the basic facts of each theory in a style that is clear, concise, and easy to follow. With the addition of a solutions manual and other teaching aids, the 2e continues to serve as the doorway to relevant theory for most students doing empirical work on auctions. Focuses on key auction types and serves as the doorway to relevant theory for those doing empirical work on auctions New chapter on combinatorial auctions and new analyses of theory-informed applications New chapter-ending exercises and problems of varying difficulties support and reinforce key points

Bidding Behavior in Multi-unit Auctions

Bidding Behavior in Multi-unit Auctions
Author: Dirk Engelmann
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2004
Genre:
ISBN:

We present laboratory experiments of five different multi-unit auction mechanisms. Two units of a homogeneous object were auctioned off among two bidders with at demand for two units. We test whether expected demand reduction occurs in open and sealed-bid uniform-price auctions. Revenue equivalence is tested for these auctions as well as for the Ausubel, the Vickrey and the discriminatory sealed-bid auction. Furthermore, we compare the five mechanisms with respect to the efficient allocation of the units. We also provide some theoretical insights concerning the equilibria of uniform-price auctions with incomplete information.

Monotone Equilibrium in Multi-unit Auctions

Monotone Equilibrium in Multi-unit Auctions
Author: David McAdams
Publisher:
Total Pages: 30
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN:

In a large class of multi-unit auctions of identical objects that includes the uniform-price, as-bid (or discriminatory), and Vickrey auctions, a Bayesian Nash equilibrium exists in monotone pure strategies whenever there is a finite price / quantity grid and each bidder's interim expected payoff function satisfies single-crossing in own bid and type. A stronger condition, non-decreasing differences in own bid and type, is satisfied in this class of auctions given (a) independent types and (b) risk-neutral bidders with marginal values that are (c) nondecreasing in own type and have (d) non-increasing differences in own type and others' quantities. A key observation behind this analysis is that each bidder's valuation for what he wins is always modular in own bid in any multi-unit auction in which the allocation is determined by market-clearing. This paper also provides the first proof of pure strategy equilibrium existence in the uniform-price auction when bidders have multi-unit demand and values that are not private. Keywords: Autions, Multi-unit Auctions, Uniform-price Auction, Vickrey Auctions Bidders, Bayesian Nash Equilibrium.