Bernard Caillaud and Claudio Mezzetti
Abstract
We study a model in which the same set of bidders, with perfectly correlated
valuations across units, compete for two units of a good in two sequential
ascending-price auctions. The seller sets a reserve price before the beginning
of each auction. Surprisingly, the equilibrium has a simple structure;
strategic non-disclosure of information (i.e., pooling) only takes the
form of non-participation in the early auction by bidders with valuations
below a threshold, while bidders with valuations above the threshold participate
and bid truthfully; that is, they stay in the auction until the price reaches
their true valuations. The participation threshold is strictly higher than
the reserve price in the first auction, so some buyers who would find it
profitable to buy at the reserve price select not to participate in order
to attempt to decrease the reserve price in the second auction. Participation
in the first auction is lower than under full commitment, but the probability
of at least one bidder participating in the second auction is higher.
Keywords: repeated auctions, ratchet effect, participation, reserve price.
JEL: D44, D82.