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Scoring Rules in Experimental Procurement

Author

Listed:
  • Gian Luigi Albano

    (Department of Economics and Finance)

  • Angela Cipollone

    (Department of Economics and Finance)

  • Roberto Di Paolo

    (Universidad de Alicante)

  • Giovanni Ponti

    (Universidad de Alicante)

  • Marco Sparro

    (Consip S.p.A.)

Abstract

We report the results of a procurement experiments where subjects compete for procurement contracts to be awarded by means of a scoring auction. Two experimental conditions are considered, depending on the relative quality-price weight in the scoring rule. We show that different quality-price weights in the scoring rule dramatically alter the strategic environment and affect the extent to which the competitive mechanism leads to an efficient allocation of the contract. Our evidence suggests that, in spite of inducing significantly higher deviations from equilibrium, the scoring rule that gives more weight to quality over price is far more efficient (52% overall). We propose a “mediation analysis” to explain how the quality-price ratio determines the likelihood that an efficient allocation is realized, disentangling a “direct effect” (due to the equilibrium different properties of the induced game-forms) from an “indirect” one (how the different game-forms affect out-of-equilibrium behaviour).

Suggested Citation

  • Gian Luigi Albano & Angela Cipollone & Roberto Di Paolo & Giovanni Ponti & Marco Sparro, 2018. "Scoring Rules in Experimental Procurement," Working Papers. Serie AD 2018-02, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
  • Handle: RePEc:ivi:wpasad:2018-02
    as

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    File URL: http://www.ivie.es/downloads/docs/wpasad/wpasad-2018-02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Scoring Auctions; Mechanism Design; Experimental Economics.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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