Sequential Bidding in Asymmetric First Price Auctions

Sequential Bidding in Asymmetric First Price Auctions
Author: Gal Cohensius
Publisher:
Total Pages: 31
Release: 2014
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ISBN:

We study asymmetric first price auctions in which bidders place their bids sequentially, one after the other and only once. We show that with a strong bidder and a weak bidder (in terms of first order stochastic dominance of their valuations distribution function), when the asymmetry between the bidders is large enough the expected revenue in the sequential bidding first price auction (when the strong bidder bids first) is higher than in the simultaneous bidding first price auction as well as in the second price auction. The expected payoff of the weak bidder is also higher in the sequential first price auction. Therefore a seller interested in increasing revenue facing asymmetric bidders may find it beneficial to order them and let them bid sequentially instead of simultaneously. In terms of efficiency, both the simultaneous first price auction and the sequential first price auction cannot guarantee full efficiency (as opposed to a second price auction which guarantees full efficiency). The sequential bidding auction when the stronger bidder bids first achieves lower efficiency than the simultaneous auction. However, when the order is reversed and bidders are asymmetric enough the sequential first price auction achieves higher efficiency than the simultaneous one.

Linear Bid in Asymmetric First-Price Auctions

Linear Bid in Asymmetric First-Price Auctions
Author: Tadanobu Tanno
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2009
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We propose a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of the eqilibrium linear bid in asymmetric first-price auctions with two bidders and uniform distributions. Introducing asymmetry in linear symmetric equilibrium increases expected revenue subject to constant expected sum of valuations. If auctions are asymmetric, the revenue in the linear equiibrium is larger than that in second-price auctions. If auctions in simple case are similar enough, the revenue in the first-price auction moves close to the optimal revenue as auctions are asymmetric. If auctions are similar enough, the linear equilibrium more efficiently allocates the item than the optimal mechanism.

Value of Information in Endogenously Asymmetric Dynamic Auction

Value of Information in Endogenously Asymmetric Dynamic Auction
Author: Sudip Gupta
Publisher:
Total Pages: 53
Release: 2011
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ISBN:

Design of selling strategies for heterogenous divisible goods auctions with endogenous informational asymmetry is an important policy question. This problem can be analyzed empirically using the distributions of ex- ante valuations of bidders, the value of information and the degree of informational asymmetry. In this paper, I estimate these by a three step procedure from a dynamic auction model with endogenous informational asymmetry. The seller sells multiple goods via a sequence of first price auctions. While bidders are ex-ante symmetric, the first period winner has an informational advantage in the second period bidding game and becomes a strong bidder. This endogenous asymmetry leads to excessive entry and overbidding in the first period relative to a one period game. I characterize the equilibrium in terms of the observed bid distribution and entry behavior. I apply a three step estimation procedure to data on OCS oil tract auctions. I find that the federal government is only ecovering 23% of the 'strong' buyers' willingness to pay in the second period. Bidders perceive the value of information to be at most 12% of their first period's informational rent. A new semiparametric structural test cannot reject the hypothesis of the strong bidder's informational superiority in the second period and sets it at 18% relative to the weak bidder. I use the estimates to design alternate mechanisms and empirically show that government's revenue increases when the asymmetry is taken into account in allocating the goods.

Signal-Jamming in a Sequential Auction

Signal-Jamming in a Sequential Auction
Author: Wei Ding
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

In a recurring auction early bids may reveal bidders' types, which in turn affects bidding in later auctions. Bidders take this into account and may bid in a way that conceals their private information until the last auction is played. The present paper analyzes the equilibrium of a sequence of first-price auctions assuming bidders have stable private values. We show that signal-jamming occurs and explore the dynamics of equilibrium prices.