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Optimal contingent delegation

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  • Gan, Tan
  • Hu, Ju
  • Weng, Xi

Abstract

This paper investigates a two-agent mechanism design problem without transfers, where the principal must decide one action for each agent. In our framework, agents only care about their own adaptation, and any deterministic dominant incentive compatible decision rule is equivalent to contingent delegation: the delegation set offered to one agent depends on the other's report. By contrast, the principal cares about both adaptation and coordination. We provide sufficient conditions under which contingent interval delegation is optimal and solve the optimal contingent interval delegation under fairly general conditions. Remarkably, the optimal interval delegation is completely determined by combining and modifying the solutions to a class of simple single-agent problems, where the other agent is assumed to report truthfully and choose his most preferred action.

Suggested Citation

  • Gan, Tan & Hu, Ju & Weng, Xi, 2023. "Optimal contingent delegation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125399, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:125399
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    adaptation; contingent delegation; coordination; dominant strategy mechanism design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management

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