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Bid Coordination in Sponsored Search Auctions: Detection Methodology and Empirical Analysis

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  • Francesco Decarolis
  • Maris Goldmanis
  • Antonio Penta
  • Ksenia Shakhgildyan

Abstract

Bid delegation to specialized intermediaries is common in internet ad auctions. When the same intermediary bids for competing advertisers, its incentive to coordinate client bids might alter the functioning of the auctions. This study develops a methodology to detect bid coordination and presents a strategy to estimate a bound on the search engine revenue losses imposed by bid coordination. When the method is applied to data from auctions held on a major search engine, coordination is detected in 55% of the cases of delegated bidding and the search engine's revenue loss ranges between 5.3% and 10.4%.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Decarolis & Maris Goldmanis & Antonio Penta & Ksenia Shakhgildyan, 2023. "Bid Coordination in Sponsored Search Auctions: Detection Methodology and Empirical Analysis," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(2), pages 570-592, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jindec:v:71:y:2023:i:2:p:570-592
    DOI: 10.1111/joie.12331
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. W. Jason Choi & Amin Sayedi, 2024. "Agency Market Power and Information Disclosure in Online Advertising," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(6), pages 1279-1298, November.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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