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diff --git a/ps1/main.tex b/ps1/main.tex index 7b595c1..e45246d 100644 --- a/ps1/main.tex +++ b/ps1/main.tex @@ -88,5 +88,79 @@ We will show a counterexample to the requirement that the item it always allocat \section{Exercise 2.10} -Characterization by Theorem 2.2. By Theorem 2.10, there are no asymmetric strategy profiles (there is a unique symmetric Bayes-Nash equilibrium). +We first try to find a symmetric Bayes-Nash equilibrium. Let us assume that +such a symmetric equilibrium exists and let us denote by $s$ the common +strategy of the agents. Using the payment identity of Theorem 2.10, we have: +\begin{displaymath} + p_i(v_i) = v_ix_i(v_i) - \int_0^{v_i} x_i(z)dz,\quad i\in\{1,2\} +\end{displaymath} +Since bidders pay their bids when they are served, we can write $p_i(v_i) += s(v_i)x_i(v_i)$ and obtain: +\begin{equation}\label{eq:strag} + s(v_i) = v_i - \frac{\int_0^{v_i} x_i(z)dz}{x_i(v_i)},\quad i\in\{1,2\} +\end{equation} + +We now compute $x_1(v_1)$; the situation being symmetric, $x_2(v_2)$ can be +computed by replacing $1$ by $2$ and vice versa in what follows. By +conditioning on whether agent $1$ wins, we get: +\begin{displaymath} + x_1(v_1) = w_1 \Pr[s(v_1)\geq s(v_2)] + w_2\Pr[s(v_1)\leq s(v_2)] +\end{displaymath} +But note that if $s$ exists, it has to be non-decreasing (otherwise, this would +contradict the fact that the allocation rule is non-decreasing by Theorem +2.10). Hence, $\Pr[s(v_1)\geq s(v_2)] = \Pr[v_1 \geq v_2]$ and similarly, +$\Pr[s(v_1) \leq s(v_2)] = \Pr[v_1\leq v_2]$. Now, denoting by $F$ the +distribution of agent's values, we can rewrite: +\begin{displaymath} + x_1(v_1) = w_1F(v_1) + w_2\big(1-F(v_1)\big) = w_2 + (w_1-w_2)F(v_1) +\end{displaymath} +Combining this with \cref{eq:strag} yields: +\begin{displaymath} + s(v_i) = v_i - \frac{w_2v_i + (w_1 - w_2)\int_0^{v_i} F(z)dz}{w_2 + (w_1 + - w_2)F(v_i)} +\end{displaymath} +Rearranging the right hand side, we get: +\begin{equation}\label{eq:strag2} + s(v_i) = \frac{(w_1 - w_2)\big(v_iF(v_i) - \int_0^{v_i} F(z)dz\big)}{w_2 + (w_1 + - w_2)F(v_i)} +\end{equation} +Finally, using integration by parts, we see that: +\begin{displaymath} + \int_0^{v_i} F(z)dz = v_iF(v_i) - \int_0^{v_i}zf(z)d(z) +\end{displaymath} +where $f(z) = F'(z)$ denotes the density function of $F$. This, in addition to +\cref{eq:strag2} leads to the following expression for our candidate strategy: +\begin{displaymath} + \boxed{ + s(v_i) = \frac{(w_1 - w_2)\big(\int_0^{v_i} zf(z)dz\big)}{w_2 + (w_1 + - w_2)F(v_i)} +} +\end{displaymath} + +Let us now verify that $s$ is indeed non-decreasing. We compute: +\begin{displaymath} + s'(v_i) = \frac{(w_1-w_2)v_if(v_i)\big(w_2 + (w_1-w_2)F(v_i)\big) + - (w_1-w_2)\big(\int_0^{v_i}zf(z)dz\big)(w_1-w_2)f(v_i)}{\big(w_2+(w_1-w_2)F(v_i)\big)^2} +\end{displaymath} +We only care about the sign of the numerator. Rearranging the terms, it is +equal to: +\begin{displaymath} + (w_1-w_2)w_2v_if(v_i) + (w_1-w_2)^2f(v_i)\left(v_iF(v_i) + - \int_0^{v_i}zf(z)dz\right) +\end{displaymath} +It is easy to see that this quantity is non-negative since the term inside the +paranthesis is equal to $\int_0^{v_i}F(z)dz$ using the same integration by +parts as above. + +As noted above, $s$ being non-decreasing implies that the allocation rule of +the position auction with strategy $s$ is non-decreasing. By design, $s$ +satisfies the payment identity of Theorem 2.10. But we cannot conclude that $s$ +is a Bayes-Nash equilibrium yet because it is not onto. However, we can show +that bids which are not in the image of $s$ are dominated. Since $s$ is +non-decreasing, its maximum value is: +\begin{displaymath} + s(1) = \frac{(w_1-w_2)\int_0^1 zf(z)dz}{w_1} +\end{displaymath} + +By Theorem 2.10, there are no asymmetric strategy profiles (there is a unique symmetric Bayes-Nash equilibrium). \end{document} |
