Bachelor 2024/2025

Recent Advances in Auction Theory

Type: Elective course (Economics)

Area of studies: Economics

Delivered by: Department of Theoretical Economics

Where: Faculty of Economic Sciences

When: 4 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Anastasia Antsygina

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 40

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course overviews the standard models of an auction. First, we will get familiar with the existing auction formats and learn when each of them is preferable. Second, we will study a classical auction for a single, indivisible object in detail, and establish the main results in mechanism design, such as the revelation principle, revenue equivalence, and the seller-optimal auction. Third, we will make the model more realistic and complement it with endogenous entry, information acquisition, and multiple objects to sell. Fourth, we will discuss the theory behind several empirical approaches used in auction studies. Finally, we will examine other auction-like mechanisms that characterize a wide range of real life interactions: contests, or all-pay auctions, where players compete for prizes by exerting effort, and a simple model of internet ad auctions. The course targets 3rd and 4th year BA students who already know the key principles of economic thinking, are familiar with the core disciplines, such as Microeconomics and Game Theory, and have the skills to solve theoretical models. The class consists of lectures (30 academic hours in total) and seminars (6 academic hours in total). The main activities include (1) lectures, (2) students’ presentations, (3) written home assignments, and (4) a final test. The discipline is instructed in English.