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Optimal Mechanism for Selling Two Goods

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Abstract
We solve for the optimal mechanism for selling two goods when the buyer’s demand characteristics are unobservable. In the case of substitutable goods, the seller has an incentive to offer lotteries over goods in order to charge the buyers with large differences in the valuations a higher price for obtaining their desired good with certainty. However, the seller also has a countervailing incentive to make the allocation of the goods among the participating buyers more efficient in order to increase the overall demand. In the case when the buyer can consume both goods, the seller has an incentive to underprovide one of the goods in order to charge the buyers with large valuations a higher price for the bundle of both goods. As in the case of substitutable goods, the seller also has a countervailing incentive to lower the price of the bundle in order to increase the overall demand.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Pavlov, 2010. "Optimal Mechanism for Selling Two Goods," University of Western Ontario, Departmental Research Report Series 20103, University of Western Ontario, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwo:uwowop:20103
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    File URL: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=economicsresrpt
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multidimensional screening; Price discrimination; Optimal selling strategies; Mechanism design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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