Speculation in Procurement Auctions

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1. Verfasser: Deng, Shanglyu
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2022
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author Deng, Shanglyu
author_facet Deng, Shanglyu
contents A speculator can take advantage of a procurement auction by acquiring items for sale before the auction. The accumulated market power can then be exercised in the auction and may lead to a large enough gain to cover the acquisition costs. I show that speculation always generates a positive expected profit in second-price auctions but could be unprofitable in first-price auctions. In the case where speculation is profitable in first-price auctions, it is more profitable in second-price auctions. This comparison in profitability is driven by different competition patterns in the two auction mechanisms. In terms of welfare, speculation causes private value destruction and harms efficiency. Sellers benefit from the acquisition offer made by the speculator. Therefore, speculation comes at the expense of the auctioneer.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2203_03044
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Speculation in Procurement Auctions
Deng, Shanglyu
Theoretical Economics
A speculator can take advantage of a procurement auction by acquiring items for sale before the auction. The accumulated market power can then be exercised in the auction and may lead to a large enough gain to cover the acquisition costs. I show that speculation always generates a positive expected profit in second-price auctions but could be unprofitable in first-price auctions. In the case where speculation is profitable in first-price auctions, it is more profitable in second-price auctions. This comparison in profitability is driven by different competition patterns in the two auction mechanisms. In terms of welfare, speculation causes private value destruction and harms efficiency. Sellers benefit from the acquisition offer made by the speculator. Therefore, speculation comes at the expense of the auctioneer.
title Speculation in Procurement Auctions
topic Theoretical Economics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.03044