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Intimidation or Impatience? Jump Bidding in On-line Ascending Automobile Auctions

Author

Listed:
  • David Grether

    (Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology)

  • David Porter

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University)

  • Matthew Shum

    (Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

We run a large field experiment with an online company specializing in selling used automobiles via ascending auctions. We manipulate experimentally the maximum amount which bidders can bid above the current standing price, thus affecting the ease with which bidders can engage in jump bidding. We test between the intimidation vs. costly bidding hypotheses of jump bidding by looking at the effect of these jump-bidding restrictions on average seller revenue. We find evidence consistent with costly bidding in one market (Texas), but intimidation in the other market (New York). This difference in findings between the two markets appears partly attributable to the more prominent presence of sellers who are car dealers in the Texas market.

Suggested Citation

  • David Grether & David Porter & Matthew Shum, 2011. "Intimidation or Impatience? Jump Bidding in On-line Ascending Automobile Auctions," Working Papers 11-07, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:11-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jon Olaf Olaussen & Are Oust & Ole Jakob Sønstebø, 2018. "Bidding Behavior in the Housing Market under Different Market Regimes," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Subhasish M. Chowdhury & Debabrata Datta & Souvik Dhar, 2019. "Auction Versus Posted Price Mechanisms in Online Sales: The Roles of Impatience and Dissuasion," Studies in Microeconomics, , vol. 7(1), pages 75-88, June.
    3. Koptyug, Nikita, 2016. "Asymmetric Information in Auctions: Are Resellers Better Appraisers?," Working Paper Series 1110, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.

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