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Risk Aversion and Optimal Reserve Prices in First and Second-Price Auctions

Author

Listed:
  • Audrey Hu

    (Tinbergen Institute, University of Amsterdam)

  • Steven A. Matthews

    (Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania)

  • Liang Zou

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of buyer and seller risk aversion in first and second-price auctions. The setting is the classic one of symmetric and independent private values, with ex ante homogeneous bidders. However, the seller is able to optimally set the reserve price. In both auctions the seller’s optimal reserve price is shown to decrease in his own risk aversion, and more so in the first-price auction. Thus, greater seller risk aversion increases the ex post efficiency of both auctions, and especially that of the first-price auction. The seller’s optimal reserve price in the first-price, but not in the second-price, auction decreases in the buyers’ risk aversion. Thus, greater buyer risk aversion also increases the ex post efficiency of the first but not the second-price auction. At the interim stage, the first-price auction is preferred by all buyer types in a lower interval, as well as by the seller.

Suggested Citation

  • Audrey Hu & Steven A. Matthews & Liang Zou, 2009. "Risk Aversion and Optimal Reserve Prices in First and Second-Price Auctions," PIER Working Paper Archive 09-016, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    • Handle: RePEc:pen:papers:09-016
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    first-price auction; second-price auction; risk aversion; reserve price;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions

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