Conferences at Department of Economics, University of Toronto, Canadian Economic Theory Conference 2015

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Dynamic Bidding in Second Price Auction

Hugo Hopenhayn*, Maryam Saeedi

Date: 2015-05-08 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Last modified: 2015-05-04

Abstract


We consider equilibrium bidding behavior in a dynamic second price auction where agents have the option to increase bids at random times and values follow a Markov process. We prove that equilibrium exists and is unique and give an algorithm to solve for bids as a function of time and values. Equilibrium bids equal the expected final value conditional on the bid placed being the final one, meaning that either the agent doesn’t get another opportunity to rebid or chooses not to increase this bid if given the option. This results in adverse selection with respect to a bidder’s own future strategy, and as a result bids are shaded relative to the bidder’s expected value. This is true in spite of values being independent across bidders. Under mild conditions, desired bids increase as time increases and the close of the auction is approached. Our results are consistent with repeated bidding and sniping, two puzzling observations in eBay auctions.

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