Dynamic Revenue Maximization with Heterogeneous Objects: A Mechanism Design Approach

Gershkov, A and Moldovanu, B (2009) Dynamic Revenue Maximization with Heterogeneous Objects: A Mechanism Design Approach American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 1 (2). pp. 168-198.

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Abstract

We study the revenue-maximizing allocation of several heterogeneous, commonly ranked objects to impatient agents with privately known characteristics who arrive sequentially. There is a deadline after which no more objects can be allocated. We first characterize implementable allocation schemes, and compute the expected revenue for any implementable, deterministic and Markovian allocation policy. The revenue-maximizing policy is obtained by a variational argument which sheds more light on its properties than the usual dynamic programming approach. Finally, we use our main result in order to derive the optimal inventory choice, and explain empirical regularities about pricing in clearance sales. (JEL C61, D21, D82)

Item Type:	Article
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Gershkov, A a.gershkov@surrey.ac.uk Moldovanu, B
Date :	2009
DOI :	10.1257/mic.1.2.168
Depositing User :	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited :	16 May 2017 15:14
Last Modified :	16 Jan 2019 17:26
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/818257

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