Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/112892 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2015: Ökonomische Entwicklung - Theorie und Politik - Session: Information No. G13-V1
Publisher: 
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft
Abstract: 
This study explores the effects of communication and its interaction with reputation information. Our focus is on buyer-determined procurement auctions with moral hazard in which buyers can select a bidder based on prices and all other information available. The results of our controlled laboratory experiment demonstrate that in contrast to reputation information communication only slightly increases market efficiency. If reputation information is available, communication has no additional efficiency effect. Buyers' choice of a bidder is influenced by both, reputation information and the content of communication. Specifically, buyers prefer bidders with a good reputation and bidders who promise them a specific profit. If this kind of promise is infeasible as it is often the case in real auctions, buyers prefer bidders whose argu-ments reduce social distance. Unspecific promises have no significant effect. Using a unique set of field data, we compare observed buyer choices with those in the field and find a choice pattern that is consistent with our lab data. High reputation bidders and bidders reducing social distance by initiating communication through additional channels are more likely to be selected as auction winners.
JEL: 
C91
D83
D44
Document Type: 
Conference Paper

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