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Bargaining, search, and outside options

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  • Gantner, Anita

Abstract

This paper studies a two-sided incomplete information bargaining model between a seller and a buyer. The buyer has an outside option, which is modeled as a sequential search process during which he can choose to return to bargaining at any time. Two cases are considered: In Regime I, both agents have symmetric information about the search parameters. We find that, in contrast to bargaining with complete information, the option to return to bargaining is not redundant in equilibrium. However, the no-delay result still holds. In Regime II, where agents have asymmetric information about the outside option, delay is possible. The solution characterizes the parameters for renegotiation and those for search with no return to the bargaining table.

Suggested Citation

  • Gantner, Anita, 2008. "Bargaining, search, and outside options," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 417-435, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:62:y:2008:i:2:p:417-435
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    Cited by:

    1. Saša Zorc & Ilia Tsetlin, 2020. "Deadlines, Offer Timing, and the Search for Alternatives," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 68(3), pages 927-948, May.
    2. Zhenyu Hu & Wenjie Tang, 2021. "Size Matters, So Does Duration: The Interplay Between Offer Size and Offer Deadline," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(8), pages 4935-4960, August.
    3. Liang Guo, 2023. "Gathering Information Before Negotiation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(1), pages 200-219, January.
    4. Feri, Francesco & Gantner, Anita, 2011. "Bargaining or searching for a better price? - An experimental study," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 376-399, June.
    5. Kalyan Chatterjee & Kaustav Das, 2013. "Decentralised Bilateral Trading in a Market with Incomplete Information," Discussion Papers 1313, University of Exeter, Department of Economics.
    6. Chatterjee, Kalyan & Das, Kaustav, 2017. "Bilateral trading and incomplete information: Price convergence in a small market," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 89-113.

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