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Optimal sales contracts with withdrawal rights

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  • Krähmer, Daniel
  • Strausz, Roland

Abstract

We introduce ex post participation constraints in the standard sequential screening model. This captures the presence of consumer withdrawal rights as, for instance, mandated by EU regulation of "distance sales contracts". With such additional constraints, the optimal contract is static and, unlike with only ex ante participation constraints, does not elicit the agent's information sequentially. With ex post participation constraints it is insufficient to consider only local incentive constraints. We develop a novel technique to identify the relevant global constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Krähmer, Daniel & Strausz, Roland, 2014. "Optimal sales contracts with withdrawal rights," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2014-045, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:sfb649:sfb649dp2014-045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sequential screening; dynamic mechanism design; participation constraints; Mirrlees approach;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • H57 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Procurement

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